'Excited' by end of charge

One of three teens accused of killing a sheep said he was "excited" to hear police had dropped the charge last week.

Blake John Kerridge, Mitchell Anthony Herbert and Matthew Ludolph, all 17, were charged with cruelty to an animal after allegedly beating the sheep and blowing off its jaw with fireworks at Mt Maunganui on April 20.

Mt Maunganui Senior Sergeant Craig Madden said the carcass was disposed of before an autopsy could be carried out, so the cause of death could not be confirmed.

Ludolph said he was "excited" when his father told him the charge had been dropped.

The teens' lawyer, Glenn Dixon, said they had been threatened and harassed since their first appearance in the Tauranga District Court.

Kerridge's mother Stephanie said he had received about 2000 nasty text messages after someone posted his cellphone number on a social networking site.

"It was our worst nightmare. It will take years for the boys to rebuild their lives."

Herbert's mother Susan said the teenagers suffered greatly as a result of a "trial by media".

The teenagers still face charges of possession of explosives and disorderly behaviour and have all pleaded not guilty to the explosives charge.