DEDHAM, Mass. — Jury selection will begin for the trial of a man accused of abusing a dog known as “Puppy Doe.”
Radoslaw Czerkawski pleaded not guilty to a dozen counts of animal abuse.
Prosecutors said he tortured a Pitbull that was found abandoned on a Quincy playground four years ago, and she was so severely injured that she needed to be euthanized.
The case sparked rage in animal rights groups and is expected to draw hundreds of protesters for the duration of the trial.
MORE: Quincy police make arrest in 'Puppy Doe' animal abuse case
That led the judge to set up a 500-foot buffer zone for anyone with Puppy Doe-related signs, pins or other items expressing opinions.
The judge doesn’t want the jury pool tainted as the prospective jurors come in for selection Tuesday.
MORE: Man accused in "Puppy Doe" abuse case sentenced for theft
Czerkawski is a Polish native who is already in prison on unrelated charges, and he will need an interpreter as he faces the animal cruelty and misleading police charges.
Outrage over what happened to Puppy Doe already prompted Massachusetts to change the law on animal cruelty to stiffen the penalties.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/V5TWF6CJAZFXBLDTZXOE47OMN4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DPCDKK6YTFDOZMJYCNGBMXUWWA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/U3KVMHHAJRDSPC7W4IORI5TYPM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/R36QG7CBKFCMVCK5FFUQOKDGBY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3TC4EXV7IFA4ZPFQYK4NC6ISMM.png)