A police officer testified today how a young man had killed the family Chihuahua in front of his own eyes last month as he was suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms.

On 21st July, the 22-year-old man’s mother called the police after her son was displaying aggressive behaviour. Seven police officers, from the Birkirkara police station and Rapid Intervention Unit, arrived on site and found the young man on his roof with around 45 pills in his possession.

The officer said the man flew into a rage, rushing downstairs and smashing his little brother’s phone before turning on one of the family dogs, grabbing it by the hind legs and bashing it against a bedside table.

The Chihuahua was taken away by Animal Welfare officers but died later on.

The officer testified that the young man resisted arrest and slightly injured a police officer as he was taken away. He later told officers he was in a confused state of mind because he was addicted to drugs and suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

The man was hit with a raft of charges, including animal abuse, violently resisting arrest and breaching his bail conditions. Magistrate Joe Mifsud today warned him he faces a fine between €2,000 and €26,000 as well as up to three years in prison sentence if he is found guilty. He also recommended that the prison director give him the necessary psychological help to combat his drug addiction.

The court will issue a sentence in the next sitting.

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