A man who viciously stabbed a family's miniature pony 41 times has been jailed for two and a half years after what the sentencing judge described as a cruel and barbaric attack.
Reginald Ozanne, who initially denied killing the pony, even visited Star's home to protest his innocence in the months leading up to his arrest.
Star's owner, Mandy Bullock, told the Dunedin District Court, the family lived in fear for months and her son even slept with a baseball bat by his bed fearing the person who killed their beloved pet would return.
Louise Ternouth and Tim Brown report.