Ex-JP killed terrier 'in cold blood'

Michael Cuttell is accused of shooting Misty

A former magistrate shot and killed a tenant's dog he claimed had savaged his peacocks, a court heard on Monday.

Parish councillor and ex-JP Michael Cuttell, 64, used his .22 calibre rifle to kill terrier Misty in a "cold-blooded" shot in the head, it is claimed.

The terrier was the family pet of father-of-three David Baker.

Mr Baker had offices on Mr Cuttell's land - a Cotswold estate near Cheltenham - and it was here the dog is alleged to have attacked two of the many peacocks owned by the councillor.

Peacock destroyed

In February Mr Baker had been out at lunch when two of Mr Cuttell's peacocks, which roam the grounds, were found badly injured.

One of them had to be destroyed.

In a police interview Mr Cuttell said he had seen Misty running out of a shed where she had been put and trying to chase a peacock.

David Baker took his terrier to work every day

He said he had shot at her, mortally wounding her, in the side.

He then took his gun and delivered a final shot in the head, he said.

But the prosecution told Swindon Magistrates Court Mr Cuttell had actually locked Misty in the shed and gone back home to get his gun.

'Calculated' shot

Prosecutor Sarah Regan said he returned to execute the four-year-old terrier in a single cold-blooded shot.

She added a vet's post mortem examination showed there had never been another wound to Misty and said he had delivered a calculated single shot.

The dog had travelled with Mr Baker to work every day for the past two years.

Mr Cuttell denies a charge of criminal damage and a charge of failure to comply with conditions of a firearms certificate.

The trial continues.