The family of a Northland man who was allegedly mauled to death by dogs called the animals’ owner “gutless” as he appeared in court today.
Abel Wira, 59, appeared at the Kaitaia District Court, charged with owning a dog which causes injury or death.
Neville Thomson, 69, was found dead on his Panguru property in August last year after a dog attack. Police say he was mauled to death by six dogs and 17 puppies belonging to Wira who was living at the property. Court documents reveal the dogs had affectionate names such as Darling, Love, Buba and Pipi.
Thomson's whānau were among those in the packed public gallery when the dogs' owner was called this morning.
They watched on as Wira was taken into the cells after refusing to stand in the dock, telling Judge Tomlinson he did not recognise the court's jurisdiction several times.
One of Thomson's family members yelled out from the gallery, calling Wira "gutless".
When he appeared later, Wira was granted bail and will reappear next month. He did not enter a plea.
Outside the court, Wira was seen getting into his vehicle with at least four dogs inside, prompting more angry reactions from the victim's family.
Thomson's son Tama Thomson said: “He's still allowed to keep dogs. He shouldn't be allowed to own dogs ever again.”
He said the death had been "a struggle" for the whānau to deal with.
"How do we move on as a family when we don't know what happened we have no clarification of what happened?
"We've got all these horrible thoughts and horrible ideas of what could have happened and went down.”
More than a year after the death, his whānau say it is a relief that an arrest has been made and things are happening.
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