Publican's wife feared for his life after man ordered dog to attack him

The publican was bit by the dog on the leg, torso and arms. Photo / File

A hotel owner's wife feared for his life as he was being savaged by a dog in the bar of the Railway Hotel on May 12, the Greymouth District Court heard.

William James Andrews, 25, admitted three charges relating to the attack, including possession of a knife, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assaulting a female and owning a dog that caused injury or death.

Andrews, a recent import to the West Coast and living in Runanga at the time of the offending, received a "three strikes" warning from Judge Emma Smith.

The court heard Andrews had been drinking at the hotel when, about 9.30pm, the publican noticed the man's dog was inside the bar.

When he was asked to remove it, Andrews retaliated by punching the 68-year-old publican in the back of the head, and then commanded the dog to bite him.

The animal bit the man's leg, causing him to fall to the ground. It then bit him on the leg again, as Andrews continued to encourage it to attack, biting the publican on the leg, torso and both arms.

Andrews then pulled the dog away, and attacked the victim himself, punching him six times.

He then ordered the dog back on attack, this time biting the victim on the neck, all the while as Andrews egged on the dog, saying "good boy, good boy".

The publican had to turn his head away to avoid being bitten on the throat as the dog continued to attack him around the head in what police described as a prolonged attack.

When the victim's wife intervened, Andrews punched her in the face and his dog then turned on her also, biting her legs and fingers. The woman told police she feared for her husband's life.

Andrews, who has been in custody since the incident, was convicted and remanded in custody until September 21 for sentencing.

The dog has since been destroyed as a result of a court order.

- Greymouth Star