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BRISBANE - A man allegedly shot his neighbour's dog with a bow and arrow following an ongoing dispute which included racist taunts and intimidation, a court has heard.
German-born Werner Schmidt today pleaded not guilty in Brisbane District Court to one count of injuring an animal over the May 2005 incident.
Crown prosecutor Chris Minnery told the court Schmidt allegedly fired the bow as the Bull Mastiff cross, named Tilch, stuck its head through the fence of his semi-rural property at Caboolture, north of Brisbane.
The arrow allegedly pierced one of Tilch's ears and pinned her to the fence, before she struggled free by tearing her wound further.
Tilch's owner Samantha Boss said the dog had been playing with her two young sons, aged three and four, in the backyard when the incident occurred.
Ms Boss said she did not see Schmidt fire the arrow but claimed he was standing in his yard holding a bow and snatched the arrow from her hands.
Tilch received stitches at a local veterinary clinic but was "never the same dog" after she returned home and appeared to be distressed, Ms Boss said.
Under cross examination from defence counsel Stephen Barclay, Ms Boss admitted Werner had complained to Caboolture Shire Council about her dogs wandering onto his property.
Mr Barclay also accused Ms Boss of making racist remarks toward Schmidt and his family, though she claimed her neighbours also directed racist comments at her.
"She (Mrs Schmidt) was racist towards me, his children teased my children and dogs with sticks," she said.
However, she strongly denied claims she and partner Scott Worthington fired slingshots at their neighbour's windows or left rotting fish in their mailbox.
"This is the first time I've heard these allegations," she said.
The trial continues.
- AAP
