28 May 2014

Diversion considered over girl's mauling

6:19 pm on 28 May 2014

Diversion is being considered for a couple who owned four dogs that mauled a seven-year-old girl in the Bay of Plenty town of Murupara.

Gareth Boyt, 35, and his wife Charlotte Boyt, 31, are charged with owning dogs which caused serious injury.

Sakurako Uehara, from Japan, survived the attack in March this year, but suffered critical injuries.

The Boyts appeared before the Registrar in the Rotorua District Court on Wednesday morning.

Lawyer Bill Lawson asked for diversion to be considered, which provides an opportunity for police to deal with people without prosecuting them.

The case will be before the court again on 9 July.

The Staffordshire Bull terrier crosses were put down just after the attack.