Cruel dog abuser gets security escort as tears, jeers and cheers greet his sentencing

3 months ago 33

Cruel canine abuser Mark Martinaj, with a police escort, had to battle his way through a mob of placard-waving animal lovers on his way to face justice.

But inside there was no respite, with about 200 spectators – online and in person – awaiting his arrival at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court.

Lynda Britten, Kate Wiggins, Jacquie Mullens joined the fight.

The 40-year-old sat tapping on his phone while protected by additional security guards, deployed for the case that has made him a lightning rod for community disgust – the appalling abuse of Millie, the Maltese shih tzu.

When the hearing began Martinaj, represented by one of Melbourne’s most highly regarded barristers, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty for repeatedly beating two pet dogs with a weapon in December 2024.

Millie, who sustained a prolonged beating for at least 10 minutes, never returned home and has never been found.

Supporters of the family service dog used the online court chat function to call for justice.

“Praying for a great outcome and he gets jail time,” wrote Jody.

Others named themselves “We love you Millie” and “Australians against animal abuse” before firm instructions came from the court that real names must be used.

“Justice for Millie from Perth,” wrote Bree Rodney.

“There is the monster,” responded Melissa Veldhuizen, referring to the accused man seated in the front row of courtroom six.

Magistrate Meagan Keogh heard the dogs’ owners Marcus and Janine Wood and their two young daughters had lived across the street from Martinaj in Melbourne’s east when the incident occurred.

CCTV showed Millie cross the street and into her attacker’s driveway before Brinnie followed five minutes later.

At the time, Martinaj had unsecured chickens roaming in his backyard and there was no fence or gate preventing the dogs from entering.

Martinaj saw the dogs on his security camera and returned home, erecting a makeshift fence made of chicken wire across his driveway.

This, the court heard, prevented the dogs from leaving and trapped them in his yard.

Footage played to the court showed Martinaj repeatedly swinging a pole at the dogs, making contact at least 16 times.

Both dogs could be seen repeatedly attempting to flee the property but were trapped by the temporary fencing – pacing back and forth and cowering as Martinaj struck them with force.

Brinnie eventually escaped and ran home, prompting her owners to search the street for Millie.

When later confronted, Martinaj told Millie’s owners: “I’m really sorry, I’ll buy you one or two [dogs], whatever you want”.

Charges of aggravated cruelty against Martinaj were withdrawn, alongside the allegation of killing Millie.

Defence barrister Dermot Dann, KC, said his client was raised in Albania and then Greece before moving to Australia, where he lives with his partner and young children.

He said Martinaj’s home and property had been attacked and set alight, and his life threatened after the incident.

Three CCTV videos played to the court showed, Dann said, two hooded “intruder criminals” smashing his client’s car, fire engulfing his front fence and the words “you will die c--- dog killer” scrawled on it.

Police were told earlier this year of online threats against Martinaj. The threats said they hoped “someone kills him” and “he will burn alive if they don’t do justice for Millie”.

“It’s interesting the public outrage should be a sign for the magistrate how much this means to the community, not be used as an excuse for the defence to argue for a lighter sentence,” Greg Bowl wrote in the online court chat.

Dann urged the magistrate to impose a fine with no conviction.

Prosecutor Holly Baxter labelled Martinaj’s actions callous and calculated, noting he trapped the dogs on his property so they could be beaten.

“He doesn’t try to remove the dogs. He doesn’t try to chase them away, he traps them and then he beats them,” she said.

Members of the public protesting outside Ringwood Magistrates’ Court.

“The animals would’ve been in fear. The CCTV shows those dogs trying to break free. It’s not until the very end that he removes the chicken wire and we see the Golden Retriever immediately run home.

“The acts are callous, they are calculated. These are actions which are very cruel.

“The animals are powerless and largely unwitting victims in what the offender has perceived as his gripe that his chickens have been chased and attacked by these dogs.”

The magistrate convicted and sentenced Martinaj to two months in jail. As she did, people in the packed courtroom stood and cheered.

The animal abuser was released on appeal bail to face the County Court on December 1.

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