it took a jury just one hour to acquit travers and trumaine johnson. it was an abrupt end to an animal abuse case that spanned three years. >> not guilty. >> reporter: travers and trumaine johnson are led out of the courthouse after a jury finds them not guilty of aggravated animal abuse. >> the evidence simply was not there. and with each witness the state's case fell apart. >> the proved that the dog was there. they didn't prove who did it. >> this is the second time the twins were tried for setting fire to a pit bull puppy nicknamed phoenix in may of 2009. the first trial ended in a hung jury. the johnson family is relieved it is over. >> in my heart i knew, yes, i did. as a mother i knew. >> i want to get them out of maryland. i don't want them to pay no taxes here in maryland. go somewhere else. >> in response to this case baltimore formed an animal abuse task force. >> we will continue to fight for the rights of animals that can't speak for themselves, everybody knows that phoenix didn't set himself on fire so we have to make sure that nothing li

the witness in the case against travers and trumaine johnson refused to testify at the trial. a judge sentenced her to six months in jail for conduct of court. the woman testified in the first trial against the brothers, that trial ended with a hung jury. the dog was euthanized because of fatal burns. >> mitt romney has widened his lead and is trying to convince the gop he is the nominee but his opponents do not appear ready to leave the race just get. we have this report. >> reporter: mitt romney is looking past his republican opponents and focusing on the general election. >> join me in the next step, toward that destination of november 6th, when across america we can give a sigh of relief and know that the promise of america has been kept. >> reporter: romney swept tuesday's primaries in wisconsin, maryland and the district of columbia. he now has more than half the delegates needed to secure the nomination. the supporters say it has reached the 30eu7b9 point where the others had stepped aside. >> now that it is clear he is he nominee i hope rick santorum would understand i

and defense attorneys rested their cases in the trial against 20- year-old twins travers and trumaine johnson. the brothers are accused of setting this pit bull on fire in may, 2009. the puppy, nick named phoenix was burned so badly she had to be euthanized. >> her tongue, her eyes, her pads are scorched off. unbelievable. >> the violence sparked widespread outrage across the country, then again when it ended with a deadlocked jury. during the next trial they faced challenges, a witness refused to testify. the judge found her in contempt of court, then gave her prison time. the defense tried to rattle the case even more, arguing the police officer who first responded to the scene did not secure it, take pictures or interview witnesses. animal welfare advocates have been in court for the entire trial, hoping for a conviction. >> we hope that there is a good verdict in the case but either way this case has brought enormous attention to animal abuse here in our city. >> each johnson brother faces four charges, the most serious one is aggravated animal cruelty. that is a felony and if convicted t

during week 2 of the retrial against 20-year-old twins travers and trumaine johnson, accused of setting a pit bull on fire prosecutors have faced one challenge after another. one witness gave contradictory statements, another key witness refused to testify altogether. 25-year-old tyer a good man a goodman would not answer any questions the judge held her in contempt and sentenced her to severe six months in prison, prosecutors were shocked left to play a recording of her testimony from the first trial when she saw knee johnsons running away from the ally where she dog was found. it happened in may 2009, she was burned so badly she had to be euthanized, they were tried once before and it ended with a hung jury. advocates are afraid that could happen again. now the state is relying heavily on police video. on wednesday a city officer identified the johnsons in the tape, which shows two men walking the dog to the scene. >>> there is no dna evidence or forensic evidence that links the brothers to the dog, that is why that video is so critical. this afternoon we are expected to hear from mor

travers and trumaine johnson are charged with animal cruelty. ay a police sergeant testified it is the johnsons seen on that tape. >>> sentencing is set for today for the local man accused of plotting to bomb a military recruitment center. prosecutors are representing a 22 year prison sentence. he was motivated by the united states war on islam. stay with us, up next we are taking you to the birthplace of the blues in some manner and there is a musical miracle in the heart of the poorest country in the world, bob simon will have ♪ ♪ okay, so who ordered the cereal that can help lower cholesterol and who ordered the yummy cereal? yummy. that's yours. lower cholesterol. lower cholesterol. i'm yummy. lower cholesterol. i got that wrong didn't i? [ male announcer ] want great taste? honey nut cheerios. want whole grain oats that can help lower cholesterol? honey nut cheerios. it's a win win. good? [ crunching, sipping ] be happy. be healthy. can i try yours? ♪ >>> well we may be biassed but we certainly think that's a good way to start your morning l

this is the second time traversed a trumaine johnson were tried to setting fire to a pit bull puppy nicknamedor of a guilty verdict and 1 lone holdout. animal welfare advocates say the case helps future abuse investigations. the two brothers will be back in court next month on unrelated charges. don, back to you. >> thank you. >>> in baltimore county a woman who started a bleach fight inside a wal-mart has learned her punishment. teresa jefferson will not be allowed in that wal-mart for the next five years she admits the threw bleach and other cleaning chemicals at a romantic rival inside the store. she will not spend anytime in jail if she stays out of further trouble. >>> after months of investigation police make an arrest in the fatal hit-and-run of a woman. beverly moore was crossing the street when she was struck and killed. the driver did not stop. now 25-year-old david french is held in lieu of $500,000 bail. he surrendered to police on tuesday. >>> stay with wjz 13, maryland's news station, up next musician zigy marley talks about music and a new documentary about his dad and a >>> at

rescuers had to be euthanized because of her burns, a witness in the case against travers and trumaine johnsoneak. a judge sentenced her for contempt of court. she testified in the first trial that ended in a hung jury. >>> a salmonella scale -- excuse me, a salmonella scare here and in other states is being blamed on sushi. health officials say the outbreak may be linked to sushi and has caused at least 7 hospitalizations. they warn it appears to be expanding. >>> the baltimore ravens are getting a new look that some of you might not be able to notice the difference. nike unveiled its versions of the uniforms for all of the nfl's 32 teams yesterday. the changes are said to be minor. the new ravens jeers with will have purple trim on the front of the collar instead of black trim all the way around, the new jerseys go on sale the 26th day of this month. >>> and stay with wjz 13, maryland's news station, complete, news, weather and traffic still ahead for you this morning. >>> also ahead the ,, you're the best mom ever. thank you, sweetie. oh... ♪ took hours to work or made me drowsy. after alle

travers and trumaine johnson are charged with felony animal cruelty, the dog was euthanized due to its burns. pros citers are relying on video showing two men leading a pit bull into the alley where she was found. yesterday a police sergeant testified it is the johnsons seen on that tape. >>> a cecil county 5-year-old is hit and killed by a pickup truck in the parking lot outside her home. this morning meghan mccorkell speaks with her family in elkton. >> reporter: good morning. the driver of that truck says he simply did not see that little girl but the victim's family says they still have questions. instead of preparing easter baskets the parents of simmaa jones put together this memorial for their 5-year-old daughter. >> she was my only child and i will never get her back. i will never get her back, that is. >> it jones was in this parking lot in front of her home when witnesses say a driver in a ford truck pulled out of one of these spots, he didn't see her and backed right over her. >> he backed into my daughter you know without any regard and he is going home with his family. >>