Punchbowl man allegedly strangled relative’s dog while laughing
A carpenter has allegedly lifted up a dog belonging to a close family relative and strangled the pooch while laughing — terrifying its owner.
The Express
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A Punchbowl carpenter, who allegedly laughed while he strangled a close family relative’s dog, has fronted court.
Robert Diab, 42, appeared at Bankstown Local Court before Magistrate Sally McLaughlin on Wednesday, charged with a number of offences including stalk/intimate intend fear physical harm, commit an act of cruelty upon an animal and drug possession after an incident at his home of a close family relative.
According to police statements, Diab — who had been charged on five separate occasions earlier for possessing drugs — approached the relative at her home on May 21 and asked where her three children were.
When she told him they were at school, Diab is alleged to have said: “Don’t f***ing lie to me, where are they?”
The documents state Diab allegedly had his hands around her dog’s throat while it was in the air.
“He was strangling the dog and laughing,” the police statement said.
“The dog was yelping in pain and (she) could see it struggling to get free.”
She told Diab: “(You) are choking the dog”, and he released the animal.
Diab left and the woman went to pick up her children from their school, “as she was afraid he would go there and take them or harm them”.
Police “believe that due to defendant’s continuous erratic behaviour that a high level of protection is required for (the woman)”.
Diab was served with an AVO while in custody.
Magistrate Sally McLaughlin adjourned the case until March 18 and wanted a MERIT (Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment Program) assessment to be carried out for his drug rehabilitation program.
“This is an opportunity for you, sir, to demonstrate to the court what you want to do with the drug rehabilitation,” Ms McLaughlin told Diab.
“A lot of people start with noble intentions ... it is a difficult process.
“This is an opportunity, use it.”
Diab is free on bail and has not entered a plea.