Homeless man whose two dogs were shot dead by Met Police appears in court to deny charges

The homeless man whose two dogs were shot dead by Metropolitan Police officers appeared in court to deny charges they were ‘dangerously out of control’ after he accused officers of ‘murdering’ his pets.

The Met Police said Louie Turnbull, 46, of no fixed address was charged on Tuesday charged with dangerous dog offences following an incident in Tower Hamlets.

Turnbull appeared at a vigil for his pets outside Scotland Yard in London last night where he told a crowd of 200 supporters that they were ‘murdered’ on their leads.

He appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday accused of being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control (with injury), which he pleaded not guilty to.

He was also charged with being in possession/custody of a dog whilst disqualified from owning or keeping a dog which he pleaded guilty to.

Armed officers gunned down two ‘out-of-control’ dogs – named Millions and Marshall – in east London on Sunday amid reports they had mauled a woman moments earlier

Louie Turnbull, 46, who was tasered and arrested, said to the crowd of 200: ‘I had them on the lead, I was pulling them away and they just murdered them’

Turnbull is next due to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 6 June.

Armed officers gunned down the ‘out-of-control’ animals – named Millions and Marshall – in east London on Sunday amid reports they had mauled a woman moments earlier. But some witnesses who saw the woman claimed she got caught up in their leads and was not seriously injured.

Around 200 members of Animal Rising, the group who disrupted the Grand National last month, attended the protest outside the force’s headquarters from around 8pm, chanting ‘rapists and murderers’ at the officers outside and chanting: ‘No justice, no peace, they’re killing dogs on our streets’. Some brought their own dogs, many lit vegan candles and quite a few were crying.

Addressing the crowd, Turnbull said: ‘They pulled out all their weapons. They were intimidating me and the dogs. And all they were doing was trying to protect me. I had them on the lead, I was pulling them away and they just murdered them. I can’t sleep’.

He added: ‘It was just so disgusting. All I was doing was trying to get them back in the boat. And I was going to come out and speak to the police. But they weren’t having it’. 

The Met Police said the charges follow a call to police just after 5pm on Sunday, May 7, to reports of a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, in Limehouse.

They said she had also suffered an injury to her leg during the incident but did not require hospital treatment.

Hundreds of Animal Rising protesters (pictured) have gathered outside Scotland Yard to hold a candle lit vigil for the two dogs who were shot dead by Met Police officers earlier this week

Animal Rising protesters outside New Scotland Yard  holding a sign in memory of Marshall and Millions, the two dogs shot dead by Met Police officers

Video appears to show a female dog owner screaming as she picks up her pet and backs away from Mr Turnbull, who can be heard calling her a ‘lunatic’

The Met added that as part of their enquiries to safeguard the public, local officers supported by specialists from Dog Support Unit and Specialist Firearms Command, spoke to a male in the vicinity who was in possession of the two dogs.

Following this interaction, which failed to bring the dogs satisfactorily under control, police firearms officers destroyed the two dogs at the scene.

The owner of the dogs was arrested at the scene. Police Taser was discharged. He was taken into custody and was later charged as above.

Two public complaints forwarded from the IOPC to the MPS were voluntarily referred back to the IOPC on Wednesday, May 10. We await a decision as to any further action they will take and will provide every assistance.

The officers concerned have been informed. They remain on operational duties.