VAN NUYS : Monkey’s Owner Testifies on Killing

A Van Nuys man accused of killing his girlfriend’s tiny pet monkey was high on methamphetamine when he broke into her apartment and bludgeoned the animal, the woman testified Tuesday.

Victoria Walker, recalled to the witness stand on the second day of an unusual animal cruelty trial for James Mardis, said that her boyfriend had a drug problem and that his use of methamphetamine was linked with obsessive behavior toward the animal.

“He was extremely high the night he killed her,” Walker said. “His eyes were huge. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so high as that night.”

Mardis, 21, is charged with burglarizing Walker’s Woodman Avenue apartment on the night of March 4, 1992, and killing 7-month-old Amanda, a 2-pound, 7-ounce Capuchin monkey who Walker raised almost from birth.

Walker reiterated in her testimony Tuesday that Mardis was jealous about the attention she gave to the pet and she stated that Mardis had administered drugs to Amanda on three occasions prior to the monkey’s death.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kathleen M. Cady rested her case after Walker’s testimony.

Defense attorney Michael Pogue is expected to give an opening statement today before presenting evidence, but he gave some indication of a potential defense Tuesday when he asked Van Nuys Superior Court Judge James M. Coleman to dismiss the charges against Mardis.

If convicted of both charges, Mardis could be sentenced to serve up to nine years in state prison.