Mercy killer "guilty"

Deshann Quattrail Brown, the young man accused of killing Mercy the Dog by pouring flammable liquid on her and setting her ablaze,  was found guilty of animal abuse Thursday afternoon. After hearing only one defense witness, and listening to 30 minutes of closing arguments per side, the jury retired about 4:10 p.m. to deliberate and returned the guilty verdict at 5 p.m. The punishment phase begins at 9 a.m. in Criminal District Court No. 7. The courtroom was packed for the closing arguments, then when the jury left to deliberate, the crowd dwindled. The verdict was read before a half-filled courtroom -- mostly animal rescue supporters, press, investigators and a few members of the defendant's family.  More on this in tomorrow's report.