A Sandy Springs man admitted to beating his girlfriend with a dead dog in a drunken rage.

Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik was in court when Emmanuel Tadeo pleaded guilty Thursday morning.
“Murphy was a good dog,” he said.  “I, in a sober state, would never have done that.  I know that now.”

Tadeo, 28, faced animal cruelty and aggravated assault charges stemming from the May 19 incident at his Roswell Road condo. His girlfriend, 40-year-old Andrea Armintrout, also faces an obstruction charge for interfering with the police investigation, police said.

Police said Tadeo killed the couple’s 9-year-old Pomeranian and beat Armintrout with it.

“Andrea and that poor creature, they didn’t deserve that,” Tadeo told the judge.

In court, Tadeo told the judge he’s sorry about the incident and is getting help for alcohol abuse.

Prosecutors have asked for an eight-year sentence but the judge wants Tadeo’s mental state evaluated before she imposes a sentence.