Police dog Enzo's killer convicted

Police dog Enzo's killer has been convicted, to the delight of the dog's former handler and his family. (...)

Enzo died on August 9 when police went to a Bay of Plenty property looking for Murphy who was wanted for family violence offences.

Murphy was tracked by Enzo and his handler Constable Kayne Cording for a considerable distance before Enzo was released when they were close to Murphy.

"However, Enzo – who caught him –- was drowned by Murphy before Constable Cording could intervene," Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Mike Clement said yesterday.

Murphy maintained he had punched Enzo in self defence but this explanation was not accepted at the time or by the court, Mr Clement said. MORE>>