Brunava dog-shooting case: defendants plead not guilty

On August 6, the Tukums court held its first hearing in a criminal case concerning the shooting of three dogs last October in Brunava parish. The dogs belonged to Modris Konovalovs, owner of the egg-producing brand "Modra olas". Standing trial are two Bauska municipal police officers, Andris Millers and Kristīne Leitere-Ozoliņa, former municipal police chief Egīls Gailis, and hunter Gatis Minkevičs, who actually shot the animals. None of the defendants have admitted guilt.

The incident took place on the afternoon of October 10, 2025, in the yard of the Ķērpji house in Brunava parish. Municipal police were called after reports of three stray dogs attacking and mauling a roe deer. Upon arrival, the officers themselves judged the dogs to be aggressive and summoned hunter Gatis Minkevičs from the local hunting club, who then shot them.

A body camera worn by the officers recorded a conversation in the police car shortly before the shooting. In the recording, officer Andris Millers can be heard making a contemptuous remark to colleague Kristīne Leitere-Ozoliņa, saying he regretted not belonging to the Brunava hunting collective, since he would gladly have killed the dogs himself. The camera was switched off soon after this exchange.

The case has drawn public attention, raising questions about the proportionality of officials' and hunters' actions when deciding the fate of stray animals. Proceedings are set to continue.