A Belfast man allegedly repeatedly ran over his puppy before leaving it “bloody and severely injured” at the side of the road, a court heard on Monday.
Giving evidence that she believed she could connect Norris to each of the charges, a PSNI officer said police were “strongly opposed” to the defendant being granted bail due to concerns about the risk of further offences and witness interference. “Officers who found it examined the car and they saw what they believed to be fur and blood on the front bumper,” she told the court.
Norris was eventually arrested near the Dunsilly car park and during police interviews, he admitted causing suffering to his mother’s dog, telling police “I hate it - I gave it a few good slaps and boots to shut it up”. Despite the alleged threats and offending, defence counsel Grant Powles revealed that Norris’ family had attended court “to support the application for bail”.
He told Norris that given the facts of the case “I have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that there is a significant risk of reoffending and to the witnesses” so he was refusing bail.