MIAMI -- A judge has dropped a felony charge against a Miami-Dade police officer accused of killing his police dog companion, although the officer still faces a misdemeanor charge.

Sgt. Allen Cockfield faced one felony count of killing a police dog and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty in the death of his 4-year-old Belgian Malinois shepherd, Duke, in 2006.

On Thursday, the defense filed a motion to dismiss the trial, claiming the officer was acting in self-defense because the dog was being aggressive.

The judge dropped the felony charge of killing a police dog. Prosecutors agreed with the defense that there is not enough evidence to prove that Cockfield intended to kill the dog.

Cockfield still faces a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.

The prosecutor told the jury on the first day of the trial Tuesday that Cockfield, a police dog handler who had served 20 years on the job, lost it on that 2006 afternoon when his new partner ignored his commands to stop barking during obedience training.

Another Miami-Dade K-9 handler demonstrated in dramatic fashion how he said Cockfield kicked the dog while holding him off the ground by his choke collar. Witnesses said the dog yelped, had a seizure and then went still.

The defense has said that the dog was biting its leash and Cockfield was trying to make the dog release it.

On Wednesday, the jury heard testimony from a fellow officer, Bridget Sanchez, who recalled details of the young dog and his partner.

"(Cockfield) said he was very difficult to control. He said he was having difficulty training him, that he disliked him and that he hated his dog," Sanchez said.

The trial continued Thursday afternoon.

If convicted, Cockfield faces up to one year in prison.