OAKLAND — The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office this week unexpectedly dropped its case against a man charged in the 2024 fatal mauling of his good friend by three, 100-pound dogs.

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Deputy District Attorney Michiye Vella cited a “lack of sufficient evidence” in asking a judge on Monday to dismiss the case against the dogs’ owner, Brendan Burke, according to court documents. The move, which the judge approved, came the same day that Burke had been expected to stand trial on a single felony count of failing to control animals killing a human.

Killed in the mauling was Robert Holguin, 53, one of Burke’s close friends and someone who had been periodically staying at the East Oakland property where he died.

On Friday, Holguin’s brother said simply: “If this was your

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