By Daniel D'Ambrosio...Enfield resident Kyle Richard Berry, already facing three years in jail for violating probation he received after kicking a police dog, decided to gamble last week on beating a cruelty-to-animals charge in another incident that could land him behind bars for an additional five years.

Appearing in Superior Court before Judge Howard Scheinblum, Berry...insisted he didn't mean to kill the neighbor's cat ... "I'm not a criminal. If I was guilty I would take my lumps."...Berry is well known to Enfield Police...Smith says that when she confronted Berry about what he had done, he said, "Is that your cat? Come over here and I'll show you what I'll do to you." Smith picked up her cat and carried him home....Annette Smith, who said it took more than an hour for her cat to die, is determined to see the case against Berry through to the end. Trial has been set for September.

"People told me 'You're wasting your time, they're not going to do nothing,'" said Smith. "I said, 'I'm going for it.' I respected that cat, he gave us plenty of love. I'll fight for him all the way."[/QUOTE]

guess what schmuck....you ARE a criminal.....here's hoping the judge recognizes it too.