Matthew Nathan Peter Hogan, 32, was refused bail when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (5 January). Photo: Michelle Kroll Region Media.
Bail has been refused for a man accused of repeatedly assaulting a dog before trying to pour petrol over it.
Matthew Nathan Peter Hogan, 32, was handed a charge of committing an act of cruelty to an animal as well as resisting a public official over the allegations against him when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (5 January).
An ACT Policing spokesperson alleged he had gone to a home in northern Canberra on Sunday (4 January) where he kicked and punched the dog before attempting to pour petrol onto it.
Police officers soon found him in Evatt. It is alleged that while arresting him, he became agitated, pulling away from police and kicking himself off the back of the police transport vehicle.
Region understands the dog survived the alleged incident.
Hogan applied for bail in the Magistrates Court on Monday which was opposed by the prosecution.
His lawyer, Damian Lloveda of the Aboriginal Legal Service, said the allegations were concerning at first blush, but there were issues with the prosecution case and the matter would likely be defended.
He said his client had drunk a whole bottle of Jim Beam and found himself lonely so jumped over the back fence to be with the dog.
The court heard Hogan apparently co-owned the dog, but it wasn’t living with him at the time.
Mr Lloveda said the dog was a bullmastiff and acted aggressively to Hogan, which perhaps resulted in his client acting in self-defence.
The lawyer also said when it came to the circumstances for the resisting arrest allegations, Hogan had a dislocated shoulder that often popped out.
He argued his client was trying to address his underlying issues with alcohol and was speaking to a psychologist.
But Magistrate Jane Campbell said Hogan had already been on bail over unrelated charges and he had also breached the conditions of his bail by drinking alcohol.
She refused bail and adjourned the matter to 30 January. No pleas were entered.
Lucky it's not an EV Jack D. Their battery doesn't take kindly to being crushed.… View