Man admits killing dog with axe

A man has admitted killing his partner's pet dog with an axe.

Peter James Green, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of cruelty to an animal, possessing an offensive weapon and wilful damage in Christchurch District Court today.

Green -- shaven headed and heavily tattoed with full facial moko -- also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of breaching a protection order.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Brent Register told the court Green, an unemployed man from Ashburton, had been in a relationship with his partner for five months and was living with her and her four children at her home in Middle Rd.

When Green's partner failed to pick him up from the Ashburton MSA Club about 7pm on Friday July 22, he walked home and began smashing windows.

Mr Register said Green cut his hand "in his frenzy" and splattered blood throughout the council-owned house, causing further damage to walls. His partner arrived home about 11pm, saw the damage and spoke to Green briefly before leaving the property to stay elsewhere for the night.

About 9pm the following day, Green took a long-handled axe from a shed on the property and attacked his partner's four-year-old cocker spaniel, killing the children's pet with a blow to its head.

Green was located by police at a nearby park still with the axe, which he said he had for his protection but admitted he may go "psycho".

Mr Register said Green had previously been in a relationship with a woman in Christchurch who had taken out a protection order against him. Before the Ashburton incident, he had texted the Christchurch woman, breaching the protection order.

Green's lawyer, Serina Bailey, sought a remand for a pre-sentencing report and an updated victim impact report.

Judge Brian Callaghan told Ms Bailey she was "wise" not to have applied for bail.

He remanded Green in custody for sentence in Ashburton District Court on December 19.

- NZPA