Dog handler on trial for death of two animals

LONDON: A police dog handler went on trial on Monday accused of leaving his two devoted German Shepherds to bake to death in his car last year when he became distracted by paperwork.

Police constable Mark Johnson, 39, was suffering from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder leading to him forgetting his dogs, 18-month-old Jay-Jay and Jet, 7, for seven hours on one of the hottest days of the year.

"Jet and Jay-Jay suffered excruciating pain when their handler left them in the boot of his private motorcar," said Paul Taylor, prosecuting the case for the RSPCA charity.