A Peabody man was convicted Monday of killing his girlfriend’s dog. Steven M. Severino was found guilty following a one day trial before Malden District Court Judge James LaMothe. The 31-year-old nurse was sentenced to 18 months in the Billerica House of Correction with 30 days to serve. He was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs.
A handful of animal advocates gathered in front of the courthouse with placards demanding justice for the dog, Coco.
One year ago, Everett police were called to a house on Hoyt Street following multiple calls from neighbors who said they heard a dog yelping and what sounded like an animal being beaten.
Severino denied killing the dog. He told police Coco got loose from its harness and he later found her collapsed outside an apartment building. But prosecutors presented surveillance video evidence at trial that did not support his story.