Animal Rights

I was a juror in the trial in which three people were convicted of stealing pets for research (Metro, Sept. 12). The majority of the jurors were apprehensive in finding the defendants guilty. We knew, by strict interpretation of the law that the defendants were guilty, but we did not wish to see them subjected to lengthy jail sentences.

I considered this trial to be quite frivolous. Unfortunately this trial probably cost the taxpayers of California hundreds of thousand of dollars. One defendant was sentenced to nearly six years in prison. I think that community service and stiff fines would have been more than adequate punishment.

B.A. WRIGHT, Canyon Country