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Woman cleared of dog attack death
A woman accused over a fatal dog attack on her granddaughter has been found not guilty of her manslaughter.
Ellie Lawrenson, five, was fatally mauled by a pit bull terrier at Jackie Simpson's home in Knowles House Avenue, St Helens, on New Year's Day.
Ms Simpson, 45, allowed the dog into the house, the jury at Liverpool Crown Court was told.
She denied manslaughter through gross negligence and was found not guilty by the jury on Tuesday.
Ellie suffered 72 injuries in the prolonged attack by her uncle Kiel Simpson's pit bull, Reuben.
The dog, which had been involved in two other attacks, locked its jaws around the child's throat and shook her.
Kiel Simpson, 24, was jailed for eight weeks at Liverpool Magistrates' Court in May after admitting owning a dog banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
During the trial, the prosecution said Ms Simpson, who had drunk two bottles of wine and smoked 10 cannabis joints prior to the attack, had broken a family rule by letting Reuben into the house while Ellie was there.
But Ms Simpson said she was not aware of such a ban and she never thought the dog would go for Ellie.
The jury heard Ms Simpson was also charged with possession of heroin found in her home after police searched it following Ellie's death.
Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, said it was not in the public interest to pursue the charge.
The judge, Mr Justice Royce, asked him if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had ever considered a prosecution against Kiel Simpson for manslaughter.
He answered that officers in the investigation believed there was no realistic chance of conviction as Mr Simpson did not believe the dog had access to the little girl.
Hearing the verdict, Ms Simpson wiped her eyes.
Speaking to the jury, Mr Justice Royce said: "This is an unusual case which had given rise to very strong emotions.
"Suffice to say, the greatest sentence passed in this case is a life sentence of regret this lady has passed on herself."
Colin Davies, Assistant District Crown Prosecutor for Merseyside, said the jury had found Ms Simpson's actions did not make her criminally responsible for Ellie's death.
"There is no doubt - and it was accepted by the defence - that Jacqueline Simpson owed a duty of care towards her granddaughter," he said.
"However, the jury by its verdict have accepted that, if there was a breach of her duty of care it was not such that it amounted to a crime."
Asst Ch Con Helen King said: "We cannot allow Ellie Lawrenson to have died in vain.
"I would ask our communities to support the work we are doing to help prevent a child ever being killed or even harmed in this way again.
"Anyone who has information on where illegal dogs are being bred, who is supplying them or who is using these animals as part of their criminal lifestyles to call the police."
stupid tbh, who is to blame then??
someone should pay, they knew it was dangerous to the kid yet still they kept it??
i really cannot get my head around that.
You keep saying they.. It was only the grandmother that was at fault. Why would they get rid of a dog that lived in a different house? If the owner wasnt a thick ***** and left it outside it would of never happened.
I dont see how she could be found not guilty, Her actions near-enough directly resulted in the girls death.. It should be manslaughter. A life sentence of regret.. Wow, Next time I want to kill someone i'll wind a dangerous animal up and throw it at them .
Why would they get rid of a dog that lived in a different house?
have i misread it??
i was under the impression that it was a family pet that was insanely jealous of there daughter so they (the parents) kept it outside, and the grandmother given strict instructions not to let it in?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sabretooth
Her actions near-enough directly resulted in the girls death.. It should be manslaughter.
08-09-2007, 17:35
who loves there dog THAT much?
.
before I'd met him 
