19-year-old Jacques Coleman sat crying in court as witnesses took the stand against him.

One witness says she and Coleman had a relationship almost a year ago, and lives in the apartment above her on Winter Street in Springfield. She says on the night of January 10th, Coleman kicked down her door and threatened to kill a 7-week-old puppy.

"I went to close the window and saw the puppy come down, he did throw the puppy out the window, " says one witness.

Coleman pleaded innocent in court to the animal cruelty charges against him, and for assault and battery charges on a woman. His lawyer told the judge that he had bought the puppy as a gift for his now ex-girlfriend, and would never hurt it. But even MSPCA officials don't buy his story.

"Whenever anyone is accused in court, from my experience, everybody is innocent and nobody did anything, and that's just the way the system works, " says Officer Christine Allenberg, from the MSPCA.

Since that devastating fall, Smitty the puppy has been adopted but he has a long recovery.

The fall resulted in two broken legs and a skull fracture, a case of animal abuse that's still shocking those involved.

"Every case of animal abuse and neglect is horrific. This one is especially horrific because it involves a little defenseless baby puppy, " adds Allenberg.

Coleman was held without the right to bail, and if convicted faces up to five years in prison. Allenberg just hopes Smitty gets some justice.

"There is a link between cruelty to animals and and other violent crimes, especially involving people. That's why the MSPCA is here because we need to speak for these animals, " says Allenberg.

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