Woman denies using dogs in assaults

An 18-year-old woman is denying setting her three dogs on a Japanese woman.

Defence counsel Angela Grant indicated Phillipa Ann Parker would plead not guilty to three charges of using a dog as a weapon when she appeared at a hearing of Christchurch District Court today.

Judge David Saunders remanded Parker on bail to August 1 for a status hearing.

Her alleged co-offender, Steven Donaldson, 25, pleaded not guilty to similar charges a month ago and was remanded on bail for a status hearing on July 4.

The pair were arrested after a Japanese woman alleged late in April that two people had made racist comments to her in Lincoln Road and then set their dogs on her, encouraging them to bite her.

She backed against a wall and escaped serious injury after help from a passerby.

(Published by NZ Herald - June 7, 2011)