Assault-case officer 'maimed' by police dog

A police officer on the run after an alleged assault on his girlfriend was "maimed" when attacked by a police dog, a jury at the Manukau District Court heard yesterday.

In his opening address, defence counsel Peter Kaye said Constable Simon Nita Ruru was lying on his stomach, his arms extended, when Jake, a german shepherd, went for him.

"At no stage did he present a threat and that dog was set on him by the handler," said Mr Kaye. "He set the dog to bite Mr Ruru."

Ruru, 27, is accused of escaping lawful custody and assaulting the dog handler, Constable Kyle O'Brien, by kicking him in the jaw.

He also faces charges of assaulting his then girlfriend, Dana Cornes, 23, by putting her in a headlock, biting and choking her, twisting her arm, and threatening to kill her.

The mauling by the dog left Ruru with deep cuts to his arms and bites to his thigh.

Mr Kaye said it was a savage attack, which left Ruru "maimed".

Ruru did not deliberately kick the officer, though in a "dire" situation - Ruru lying on the ground with a large dog on top attacking him - there might have been contact with Constable O'Brien.

Mr Kaye said Ruru acknowledged twisting one of Ms Cornes' wrists in self-defence to stop her hitting and scratching him.

He denied threatening to kill Ms Cornes but acknowledged putting her in a headlock to restrain her.

"He wasn't doing it to hurt her or injure her. He was doing it to stop her."