Murrumbateman farmer Noel Heinecke killed neighbour’s puppy

A retired farmer will be sentenced next month after killing a defenceless puppy. Read why he told police he did it.

Murrumbateman man Noel Heinecke will be sentenced for killing his neighbour’s border collie puppy. Generic image PICTURE: Zoe Philips

A retired farmer will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to shooting and killing his neighbour’s pet dog.

Murrumbateman man Noel Francis Heinecke, 69, has pleaded guilty to not delivering an animal back to its owner and an act of cruelty toward animal.

Heinecke pleaded guilty to both charges earlier this month and was set to be sentenced at Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday but his sentencing was adjourned.

The statement of agreed facts reveal Heinecke saw his neighbour’s border collie puppy on his property, chasing his sheep and lambs, on June 25.

He seized the young pup and put it into a pen before fetching a firearm from his house.

While the puppy was in the pen, Heinecke killed the dog with one bullet to the head.

He then put the dog’s body into a chaff bag and left it on his property covered with leaves.

Noel Heinecke will face sentencing at Queanbeyan Local Court next month.

The owner of the dog later visited Heinecke’s property where he asked about the dog.

Heinecke told his neighbour he had shot the dog, and when the neighbour asked for the dog’s body to be returned so he could bury it, Heinecke refused.

The victim then called police who interviewed Heinecke that day.

Police say Heinecke told officers he was “within his rights” to kill the dog because it was a threat to his sheep.

Heinecke also alleged there was an ongoing issue with his neighbour over the past 20 years, unrelated to this incident.

He told police when he saw the dog he became angry.

Court documents state police told him because he was able to secure the puppy in a pen, it was not a threat to livestock.

Police interviewed the victim who said the dog was only 12 months old and not likely a threat to livestock.

The victim told police he just wanted to bury the body.

The documents state Heinecke was “reluctant” to return the body because he believed the victim would photograph the corpse and use it against him.

However police eventually convinced him to give the dead dog to police.

Officers gave the victim the dead dog, but warned him to not open the chaff bag, as it was graphic, to which the victim agreed.

On June 28, police returned to Heinecke property and seized his firearms.

Heinecke will be sentenced next month.