Jury Weighs Fate Of Bird Watcher Who Killed Cat

Thursday, November 15th 2007, 6:45 pm

By: News On 6

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - Jurors in Galveston will resume deliberations Friday on the fate of a birdwatcher accused of animal cruelty for shooting a cat that lived under a bridge. If convicted, Jim Stevenson could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Stevenson has admitted shooting the cat last fall because he saw it hunting a threatened species of bird near the San Luis Bridge Pass. The defense says Stevenson thought the cat was a stray.

Texas law bars the killing of domesticated animals without the owner's permission. But prosecutors say a toll bridge worker fed the cat, gave it bedding and named it "Mama Cat", effectively becoming the owner. The case went to the jury today.