Witnesses' testimony tries to refute cadaver dog handler

The defense has called two witnesses since our mid-morning break. Both are here to disprove Roy McNeil's testimony - or at least his expertise as a dog handler. Wayne Buford is a dog handler from Missouri. He works with FEMA, and was involved with the Katrina aftermath. He met Roy McNeil in May 2006 when McNeil came to help with recovery of bodies. On May 11, Buford gave McNeil's dog Kiser a test to make sure he qualified to search for bodies in the Katrina aftermath. When told the work, Kiser walked away, Buford testified. When told to search again, the dog again walked away, Buford said. Then, Buford said McNeil told him they had been traveling all night and Kiser was tired. Buford gave him the rest of the day to rest. The next day, McNeil was assigned with two other handlers who tested him. Buford read off a report that McNeil and Kiser were sent home because of failure of a second test and complaints from other handlers. Buford said McNeil was later argumentative and belligerent. Bellas asked him two questions on cross-examination. Buford confirmed he was not aware McNeil and Kiser had been driving all night before the first test, and Buford said he was not present for the second test the next morning.
Jonni Joyce retook the stand after Buford. This time she testified to her knowledge and experience with dog handling and training in front of the jurors. She originally spoke in the mini-hearing to try to disprove McNeil as an expert witness. Today, she told jurors about her years of experience with K9s and handlers. She talked of ways to train a dog. She said proving graves is not a proper way to train a dog (remember, McNeil said he did that). She also said there should be only one alert (remember, McNeil's dog has several, such as sit, lay, paw). And she harped on the importance of records, to help train your dog, go back and correct problems that arise and illustrate your dog is properly trained (remember, McNeil testified his records were destroyed in two rain storms. He said what he brought to court were his memories.)
The defense is still questioning Joyce. Then the defense will get a chance to cross-examine. We'll see how many more witnesses the defense has to call. Could you imagine this could all be over by the week's end? I don't know, though. We'll just have to wait and see.