Dog proprietor satisfied armed cops ‘executed’ her XL Bully arrested over ‘witness intimidation’
Sophie Zaherali’s three-year-old XL Bully Ghost died after being shot four times by police on December 7, and now the devastated mum wants justice for her pooch
Dog lover Sophie Zaherali, who believes her XL bully dog was “executed” by police, has been arrested for trying to name the cop marksman who shot her pet. Her beloved three-year-old dog, Ghost, was shot four times by officers on December 7 in Sheffield.
The mum-of-three is adamant her nine-stone dog wasn’t lawfully put down as there was no proof Ghost was acting aggressively, and so she lodged a complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the incident.
She was arrested for supposed witness intimidation after she shared a clip of the shooting online and called for the name of the armed officer. She wants to take action against the cop and South Yorkshire Police.
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Sophie, who claims she has a legal exemption to keep the outlawed breed, said: “I think he should be treated like anyone else. I believe he has used the firearm unlawfully.”
While Sophie was in police custody, the cops seized her mobile and two other dogs – two pocket bullies called Rex and Nova. The dogs have since been given back.
She claimed that the cop who pulled the trigger “ripped” her family apart and caused “distress” to the neighbourhood.
The self employed beautician said: “The police didn’t arrive with their sirens on, so when people heard the bangs, they were scared as to what was happening.
“Ghost was shot four times and the officer I saw fire shots three and four was standing over my dog as he was laying on the floor.
“I just feel shocked and numb. We’re not able to grieve, they won’t give us his body. They’re still holding him and I won’t feel like he’s actually gone until we can lay him to rest and bring him home.”
Sophie claims her beloved pooch Ghost bolted from her Hillsborough home on December 7 after a gust of wind flung open her front door. Unaware of the drama unfolding downstairs while she was tending to her four-year-old son Elijah, chaos erupted outside.
Her eldest boy Kai, 11, peered out to see armed cops surrounding their pet. Her partner Wayne Hudson, 31, ran out after hearing two loud bangs but was restrained by officers as another shot hit Ghost.
South Yorkshire Police responded to two 999 calls – one alleging Ghost had bitten a woman, another from a dog owner who had to hoist her own pet out of harm’s way. Despite the woman escaping unscathed, the force deemed Ghost a significant threat and made the call to “humanely dispatch the dog at the scene”.
More than 30 people demonstrated outside a police station on Saturday. Sophie, a beautician who’s also mum to Alissia, 12, slammed police claims that Ghost was a threat or that he had lunged at officers.
She added: “I would put my life on it that Ghost has never bitten anybody.”
In her quest to seek justice, Sophie is pursuing legal action against the police force and the cop who shot Ghost – which is why she called for information about his identity.
On January 3 three cop cars and two vans turned up at Sophie’s home to arrest her. She was working at the time and went down to the station later that day.
In an updated statement, a spokesman said: “On January 3, a 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation. She has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
“Our investigation is on-going and the dog’s body forms part of evidence and remains in possession at this time.”
