Trial opens for suspect in Gurnee cat-shooting incident

Sean Hand's neighbor testified Monday that Hand admitted he shot a cat known for wandering their Gurnee neighborhood the day after the July 2005 incident.

But Hand's defense attorney told a Lake County judge unsubstantiated statements attributed to Hand -- like the one the neighbor testified to -- make up the entirety of the case against his client.

Hand, 42, of 3409 Florida Ave., is charged with animal cruelty, animal torture and criminal damage to property in connection with the July 9, 2005, shooting and wounding of a cat named Joshua.

Hand's next-door neighbor, Robert Sarver, testified that during a conversation the day after the shooting, Hand said he had shot the cat.

Sarver's wife, Christine, also testified Monday that she heard Hand make a number of negative comments about the cat, which was owned by a family down the street.

Joshua was shot once in the left rear leg and required treatment costing close to $4,000 and three months to heal.

Waukegan attorney Barry Boches told Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti that there is no other evidence linking Hand to the crime than the statements.

Boches said no one saw him shoot the cat and no one will testify they saw him at home on the day of the shooting.

In addition, Boches said, police examined Hand's guns and determined they had not been recently fired. Bullet fragments taken from Joshua's leg could not be matched to Hand's guns.

Assistant State's Attorney Ryan Koehl argued that Hand made a bad choice when he fired on the animal, and that the statements attributed to Hand constituted credible evidence.

The trial continues today. If convicted, Hand faces up to three years in prison.