A police marksman shot an XL Bully dog three times with a pump-action shotgun before killing it with a pistol in Sheffield, bodycam footage has revealed. The dog, named Ghost, was three years old and weighed nine stone (57kg). The incident occurred near the junction with Dunella Road on Dyke Hall Road after the animal escaped from its home.
Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard that officers were responding to reports that the dog had attacked people. The owner, Sophie Zaherali, 31, from Wisewood, was found guilty of owning a dog that was dangerously out of control. She also pleaded guilty to malicious communications against the police officer who shot her dog, having posted photos online to identify him.
The court was told that Ghost escaped on December 7 last year while Zaherali was dealing with a medical emergency involving her child, who was having a seizure. The door had not closed properly. Two people made 999 calls, and an armed response unit was sent. Witnesses described the dog jumping up at people, including two women holding small dogs above their heads.
During the trial, one police officer who viewed 17 seconds of bodycam footage agreed that Ghost did not appear to be acting dangerously in that clip, but added that officers had to make a split-second decision based on information that it had attacked people. District Judge Tim Spruce ruled that the dog met the legal definition of 'dangerously out of control' under the Dangerous Dogs Act, regardless of whether it injured anyone.
Zaherali criticised the police, calling them 'murderers' who killed Ghost in 'cold blood'. She claimed a second officer had said the dog was not acting dangerously. The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports, but the judge indicated he was not considering a custodial sentence.
