VAN NUYS : Man Not Guilty of Killing Ex-Girlfriend’s Monkey

A jury found a man not guilty Thursday of animal cruelty charges, rejecting allegations that he had killed his ex-girlfriend’s pet Capuchin monkey Amanda out of jealousy.

“It’s very bizarre. I just happened to meet the wrong person and make an error in judgment,” a relieved, but still shaken James Mardis said after the verdict was announced. “These are especially weird charges for someone to bring up against me because of my love for animals. I’ve always been an animal lover.”

Mardis, who denied all charges, faced a maximum of nine years in prison had he been convicted of animal cruelty and burglary charges.

At the bizarre four-day trial in Van Nuys Superior Court, Mardis was accused by his former girlfriend, Victoria Walker, 26, described Thursday as an exotic dancer, of seeking revenge against the 7-month-old monkey because she paid more attention to it than to him.

She testified she loved Amanda like a daughter, fed the creature from a bottle and kept it in diapers. Mardis testified that Walker mistreated the monkey, forcing it to drink alcohol and ingest drugs. Each accused the other of drug use. A distraught Walker refused Thursday to discuss the verdict.

“She’s disgusted . . . extremely disappointed and hurt,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Kathleen M. Cady.

Jurors said there was not enough evidence to prove that Mardis was responsible for the monkey’s death.

“It could have been other people involved,” said juror Matt Kovaks. “There were other individuals who were potential (animal abusers). It was just the evidence in the case did not prove him by the laws of the court (to be) guilty.”

Amanda, the 2-pound, 4-ounce monkey, died in a Van Nuys apartment March 4, 1992, when someone smashed in its skull.

Mardis admits being in the apartment the night the monkey was killed, and he was seen running from the residence after a witness heard a loud scream. Walker said her boyfriend was jealous and acted strangely around Amanda, Cady told the jury.