Attempted murder charge after officer stabbed

File photo / Richard Robinson

A man has been charged with attempting to murder a police officer and wounding a police dog during a home invasion last month.

Police dog Koal was stabbed several times in the head when he and his handler were called to Coppell Place, in the Christchurch suburb of Hoon Hay, on September 23.

A couple woke in the bedroom of their home about 4am to find a man standing beside the bed. He was holding a knife from the kitchen.

While the couple talked to the man, their 17-year-old son phoned police.

During a confrontation with police at the property, the offender allegedly stabbed Koal and an officer, who was saved from serious injury by his stab-resistant vest.

When the man was subdued with pepper spray, he had to be taken to Christchurch Hospital for surgery for a dog bite.

The accused, an unemployed 23-year-old of no fixed abode, was still too unwell for an appearance in Christchurch District Court today.

His name remains suppressed at the request of defence counsel Michael Knowles, who indicated that when the man was well enough a psychiatric report would be sought under the Criminal Procedures (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act.

He was originally charged with using a knife as a weapon while committing the burglary of the house.

Today he faced three more charges: attempting to murder the police officer, threatening to kill the woman who lived at the house, and intentionally wounding the police dog.

Judge Paul Kellar remanded him in custody to November 4.

- NZPA