A New Zealand man has been convicted of assault after bashing a builder with a dead chicken, the Stuff website reported today.

The Christchurch District Court heard how Sean Brian Unwin lashed out with the dead chicken after the tradesman’s dog got among his prized flock of chickens, creating a bloodbath in the backyard.

Police initially charged Unwin with assault using a chicken as a weapon. However, this was plea bargained down to a plain assault charge before he appeared in court.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll, who said he’d never seen a case like it, convicted Unwin of the charge of assault and ordered him to come up for sentence in six months if called upon.

“Nothing I can say or do can change what has occurred,” he said.

The builder has apologised for the death of the chickens.

- dpa