A 31-year-old woman and her nephew today appeared in court jointly charged with murdering her husband.
George Button, 53, was found lying in a pool of blood on a grass verge in a country lane near his home on West Rainton, County Durham.
The Sunderland city council electrician was exercising his 14-year-old border collie dog, Laddie, when he suffered a severe blow to the back of his head.
He died at Newcastle General Hospital on Wednesday last week, two days after he was allegedly attacked.
His wife, Christina, and her nephew, Simon Tannahill, 20, appeared before Peterlee Magistrates today jointly charged with murder.
Tannahill had been staying at the marital home in St Mary's Drive, West Rainton. No evidence was outlined and pleas were not entered at the five-minute hearing today. The pair was remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court in one week.
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