Attorneys for two men accused of sneaking into Miami-Dade farms and slaughtering horses to sell the meat have asked a judge not to allow cameras in the courtroom during their much anticipated trial.
Luis Cordero, 19, and Santiago Cabrera, 20, are both charged with animal cruelty and armed burglary for killing two horses, including a race horse, and selling the meat on the black market last year.
Prosecutors apparently offered the men a plea deal to avoid a trial with heavy public interest and media scrutiny, but the defendants said they would rather go to trial. Prosecutors they are offering no less than five years in prison for both men.
Last summer, two dozen horses across South Florida were found butchered and missing chunks of flesh, in what animal activists and police considered a deadly spike in the horse meat trade. The horse slaughters drew outrage from many in the farm and horse communities, who teamed up to take matters into their own hands.
Because of the outcry, politicians in Tallahassee passed stricter horse protection laws and stiffer penalties which could come into play in this case.
Cordero, Cabrera and their attorneys got a taste of what the atmosphere might be like at trial when a few dozen angry protesters showed up with signs denouncing the murder of horses.
One sign read, "NO MERCY FOR HORSE KILLERS."
The judge set a tentative trial date for Sept. 7 and plans to rule on the camera ban sometime before then.
