'Traumatised' woman watches dog being stabbed 29 times in Airdrie

April Brooks faced prosecution because two-year-old Chase, an Irish Blue Staffordshire terrier, bit and badly injured Alexander Gault before being knifed.

The dog died of its stab wounds.

Horse riding instructor April claimed her pet was only protecting her after Gault and an associate threatened her with blades.

Jurors at Airdrie Sheriff Court were shown footage of Gault's pal stabbing the dog repeatedly.

April, 37, was accused of being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control, but walked free after a not guilty verdict.

She wept as she gave evidence about the "terrifying" events in a car park in Airdrie on May 28, 2024.

April told the court she panicked and lost her grip on Chase's lead after the two men produced knives.

She fled, hid behind a bin shed and didn't see the dog biting Gault, 42, repeatedly and being stabbed by the other man.

Speaking after the verdict, April said: "I took Chase for his walk that night and never thought any of this would happen.

"He was a well-loved dog who got on with everyone and went everywhere with me and my partner, Jamie. He is so missed.

"Seeing for the first time the video of him being stabbed by that man was horrific, the most heartbreaking and traumatic thing I have seen in my life."

April rushed Chase to a vet after the stabbing, but the dog that she'd had since he was a pup couldn't be saved.

Giving evidence, April told her lawyer, Ross Brown, she had feared for her life and the dog was protecting her by biting Gault.

She said she met Gault, his pal and a female in an alleyway and an argument started after they asked to borrow her phone.

April told the jury: "They were asking what money I had with me. The men had knives and I was terrified.

"Chase was feeding off that and launched forward, pulling the lead out of my hand.

"I just ran because I thought I was going to be stabbed."

She described Chase as "an obedient, well-trained dog" and denied that she had told Gault: "I can say two words and this dog will attack you."

The video also showed the woman who was with Gault kicking and stamping on Chase.

Gault denied acting aggressively and claimed he "blacked out" after the dog attacked him.

He suffered bites to both arms, lost part of a finger and required a skin graft.

A police officer described a bloodbath at the scene with Gault lying "motionless" on top of Chase and drifting in and out of consciousness.

Gault was taken straight to hospital. The officer feared he was "in trouble" due to  the "extensive amount of blood on and around him".