Garlick convicted following dog attack

Former Olympic chief Bill Garlick was yesterday convicted of owning a dog which caused serious injury to a toddler at a wedding near Featherston in March.

In the Masterton District Court, Judge Geoff Ellis ordered Garlick to pay $1000 compensation to the victim's family and to destroy the dog.

Jacob Rapira-Davies, 2, was bitten by Garlick's eight-year-old golden retriever Sam.

The attack occurred while Jacob and his parents were over from Australia for a wedding.

Garlick, 50, had originally intended to plead not guilty to the charge but changed his plea last month.

Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke said the the dog had wandered across from the neighbouring property where Garlick was staying.

The boy's father, Damian Rapira-Davies, said the family had refused a $7000 compensation offer from Garlick if they agreed the dog could avoid being put down.

Garlick's lawyer, John Billington QC, told the court Garlick had renewed the offer with no strings attached and it was not an attempt to "purchase leniency from this court".

Mr Billington said the dog should not be destroyed as a canine psychologist had concluded he was a "perfectly normal golden retriever" with a low predisposition to attack .

But Judge Ellis disagreed. He ordered the dog destroyed and convicted Garlick.

Later, Garlick said Sam was a family dog that was used to children, and warned about the dangers.

"If you've got a cuddly family pet don't assume if it's out of your sight that it won't bite because it will.

"If it is put in a situation unbeknown to you, you could end up where I am."

- NZPA