Briton cuts puppy's throat during booze binge

London, April 14 (IANS) A Briton slaughtered his family's puppy with a kitchen knife during a three-day drinking binge, The Sun reported Saturday.

Christopher Hill watched his Patterdale terrier Maggie bleed to death after he stabbed her in the throat in the garden of his home. He told investigators that it took about two minutes for the six-month-old dog to die.

The 39-year-old had been left in sole charge of his 18-month-old daughter at the time but had been downing vodka and Pimms. When his wife returned home and asked where Maggie was, he told her the dog had escaped.

The couple have now separated and Hill, who lives in Ripley, Derbyshire, was reported to the authorities by his family. The dog's body was never recovered.