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Men guilty after dog fight trial Men fined over illegal dog fight
(20 minutes later)
Ten men have been convicted of a number of charges related to an organised dog fight in Birmingham in which two pit bull terriers died. Ten men have been convicted and fined over an organised illegal dog fight in which two pit bull terriers died.
A district judge at the city's magistrates' court found all ten guilty of attending the fight, while five were also convicted of more serious charges. A district judge at Birmingham Magistrates' Court found all ten guilty of attending the fight, while five were convicted of more serious charges.
All 10 defendants had denied the charges against them. All 10 denied the charges, including possessing a pit bull and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
One man claimed he thought the fight at a shop in Alum Rock, Birmingham, in February 2006 was a music party.One man claimed he thought the fight at a shop in Alum Rock, Birmingham, in February 2006 was a music party.
Largest dog fights Squeals of pain
The more serious offences included possessing a pit bull and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. District Judge Kal Qureshi issued fines ranging between £750 and £1,400 to five men found guilty of attending the fight.
The other five have been remanded on bail for sentencing in October, along with two more men who admitted several offences before the trial.
Mr Qureshi has told the men that custody is an option.
The fight took place in rooms at the back of a kitchen interior store in February last year, the court heard.The fight took place in rooms at the back of a kitchen interior store in February last year, the court heard.
A total of 16 other men had already admitted their part in the incident. The jury, shown tapes of the fight, could hear squeals of pain and phrases such as "shake him" and "come on boy" as the dogs bit each other so badly that one was left covered in blood with hardly any hair round its face.
Sentencing has been delayed until next month. The men organised this makeshift pit for the dogs to fight in
Those who face the most serious charges have been warned they may face jail. One dog, which was hidden in ceiling tiles when the match was raided, died a few hours later and the other was so injured it was put down 48-hours later.
Finding the men guilty, Mr Qureshi ruled that all ten who denied attending the fight had been there for at least 25 minutes.
Two claimed they went to the showroom to attend a music party and another man claimed one of the pit bull's was not his despite him referring to "my dog" three times while giving evidence.
Earlier this month, 14 men were fined after pleading guilty to attending the fight.
The RSPCA, which brought the prosecution, said it was one of the largest dog fights it had ever uncovered.The RSPCA, which brought the prosecution, said it was one of the largest dog fights it had ever uncovered.