Truth Comes Out in S.F. Zoo Tiger Mauling Case

Drunk, Stoned, Hip Hop Thugs Responsible for Friend and Tiger's Death!

I Miss the Tiger!

Even though it appears that the official police investigation is ongoing, we know have a clearer idea of what happened on Christmas Day at the San Francisco Zoo that left one young man and a beautiful 4 year old Siberian Tiger dead.

At first, the two Dhaliwal brothers, 23-year-old Kulbir and Paul, 19 refused to cooperate with Police and were even overheard in the ambulance as it took them to the hospital making an arrangement to keep silent. "Don't tell them what we did," older brother Kulbir was overheard by Paramedics telling Paul.

On January 8th, the two brothers attended the funeral (see photo right, note claw marks) of the mauling victim 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr.

Paul Dhaliwal, is also quoted by the victims mother, Marilza Sousa saying: "We didn't do nothing. We were just normal kids in the zoo.. That's what happened - just dancing, talking, laughing like normal kids."

Friday, we learned that multiple reports of the three taunting the tiger were correct and Police Investigators stated in court documents: "the three had yelled and waved at the animal while standing atop the railing of the tiger's exhibit", police said in court documents filed Thursday.

The investigation also confirms that small amount of marijuana as well as a partially filled bottle of Grey Goose vodka and kit commonly used to defeat drug testing, which included a vial of unisex synthetic urine, were found in the 2002 BMW belonging to the older brother Kulbir.

All three of the victims tested positive for marijuana and had alcohol in their systems. Young Paul had a blood alcohol level of 0.16 percent, twice the legal level for drunkenness.

Sousa's father, Carlos Sousa Sr., is quoted in the affidavit as saying he spoke by telephone with Paul Dhaliwal after the attack. ...According to the elder Sousa's account to police, Dhaliwal told him that he, his brother and the younger Sousa had been "waving their hands and yelling at the tiger" just before the animal bounded up a 12 1/2-foot wall from its dry moat and attacked them.

Paul Dhaliwal - referred to in affidavit by his formal name, Amritpal - "said the three of them were standing on the railing looking at the tiger," Sousa told police.

The 3-foot-tall metal railing is a few feet from the edge of the tiger moat.

Dhaliwal told Sousa that "when they got down they heard a noise in the bushes, and the tiger was jumping out of the bushes" on Paul Dhaliwal, the affidavit said.

Yep. Just some "normal kids in the zoo.. dancing, talking, laughing like normal kids." Stoned, drunk and taunting a wild animal. Only when they heard some rustling in the bushes did they realize too late how dangerous their day had become!

Both Dhaliwal brothers have been in trouble with the law recently. They were arrested last year after police witnessed them chasing two individuals near their home. They became belligerent and violent. Young Paul Dhaliwal was on felony probation after pleading no contest Oct. 31 to reckless driving, driving under the influence, resisting an officer and providing a false name, after he led a Santa Clara County sheriff's deputy on a chase of up to 140 mph before crashing into a tree in San Jose.

Lawyers Cry Foul at Police Investigation

An attorney for the Sousa family, Michael Cardoza, said it was clear police had been pressured to conduct their search despite a shortage of evidence that the Dhaliwals and Sousa had committed a crime.

"You wonder who is pulling the strings here," he said. "If they were looking at bringing manslaughter (against the Dhaliwals for Sousa's death), that is unbelievable."
...
"Come on, how many people go out there to the zoo a little stoned?" he said. "This is ridiculous. Is that a reason to dirty the kids up?"

Come on... how many people get drunk and high and dance on rail taunting tigers! No big deal right?

Meanwhile, the Dhaliwal family has signed up celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to shake down the zoo for every penny they can get.

And sadly, there are reports that the San Francisco Police Dept. may shelve the investigation without filing charges against the two people most responsible for the death of the Tiger and their friend.