An Austrian count shot his wife's dog dead and hid its body during 'acrimonious' divorce proceedings - but claimed he was putting the pet out of its misery, a court has heard.
Count Konrad Goess-Saurau had denied a charge of criminal damage on the grounds that it was reasonable to 'destroy' the animal to end his suffering.
At Swindon Magistrates' Court prosecutor Ben Worthington said the German pointer named Herman was solely owned by his wife Countess Susan Goess-Saurau.
