Horrific Photos Open Dog-Mauling Trial

Feb. 19 -- Prosecutors today portrayed the owners of the dogs who mauled a San Francisco woman to death last year as dog breeders who ignored their animals' deadly potential while the defense told jurors that one defendant risked her life trying to save the victim from her pets.

As the trial of Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel got under way today, defense attorney Nedra Ruiz said in her opening statement that Knoller did her best to prevent bloodshed when at least one of her two dogs lunged at a neighbor, Diane Whipple. Knoller, 46, and her husband Noel, 60, both lawyers, face charges of involuntary manslaughter and keeping a vicious dog. Knoller, who was with the dogs when they attacked Whipple, is also accused of second-degree murder.

The prosecution showed jurors gruesome pictures of Whipple's fatal dog bites and argued that Knoller ignored the dangers posed by her pets and let them kill her neighbor. The defense, however, argued that Knoller threw herself between the victim and her pets.

Ruiz tried to counter the prosecution's arguments by getting on the floor and re-enacting the attack from the defense's point of view.

"I know you've seen terrible pictures of Diane Whipple today," a tearful Ruiz said, her voice cracking. "But evidence will not show that Marjorie [Knoller] stood back and let that terrible thing happen to that beautiful girl."

"Marjorie Knoller tried to save that woman's life with her own body," Ruiz said. "She cut her fingers trying to beat back Bane's head as he was biting her and as he was ripping Ms. Whipple's clothing off."

Bane and Hera, the couple's two presa Canario dogs, each weighing more than 100 pounds, attacked the 33-year-old lacrosse coach outside of her doorway on Jan. 26, 2001. Ruiz showed photos of Knoller covered in blood after the deadly attack. She faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison if she is convicted. Noel faces a maximum of four years in prison if he is found guilty.

The defense sharply disputed allegations that Knoller abandoned Whipple in the hallway after the attack.