the_stillness
11-09-2007, 07:28 PM
We all know about [Pit bull terriers] and their terrible reputation as a very vicious and dangerous dog indeed. But they are still here in Great Britain. I realise that - dangerous dogs include many other breeds and crossbreeds too, so I am not having a go at one particular breed. I am looking for the best answer to the problem which exists over owning these kinds of dogs and especially when children are also in the same environment.
This story is very current and the outcome isn't very nice either. Was the case a fair one - in your opinion? What could have been done instead and what improvements would you make?
September 11, 2007
Grandmother cleared over pitbull killing
Ellie Lawrenson, 5, who died after being mauled by a dog in her family home
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42406000/jpg/_42406917_newellie203280.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/newsbeat/media/ap_pitbull205x125.jpg
Jacqueline Simpson, the grandmother of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson who was savaged by a pitbull terrier, was acquitted of her manslaughter today at Liverpool Crown Court.
Ellie was killed by the dog belonging to her uncle, Kiel Simpson, in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Mrs Simpson, 45, was charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and admitted she was partly responsible for the death because she let the dog inside the house.
Liverpool Crown Court was told that Mrs Simpson, who had smoked ten cannabis joints and drank two bottles of wine before the fatal attack on Ellie, breached a family rule by allowing the dog near the little girl. Mrs Simpson, a former taxi driver, denies breaching the rule.
Emergency crews called to the house in St Helens, Merseyside, discovered Ellie’s body with 72 injuries, and her grandmother lying in a foetal position. The dog, Reuben, was shot dead at the scene.
Related Links
Ellie's grandmother accepts blame
Ellie dog attack left floor awash with blood
Killer pitbull was 'jealous of Ellie'
The jury of seven men and five women found her innocent after a six-day trial
Hearing the verdict, Mrs Simpson wiped her eyes.
Speaking to the jury, the judge, 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.”
The jury was told that Mrs Simpson was also charged with possession of heroin found in her home after police searched it in the aftermath of Ellie’s death. Neil Flewitt, QC, for the prosecution, said it was not in the public interest to pursue the charge.
The judge asked him if the Crown Prosecution Service had ever considered a prosecution against Mrs Simpson’s son, Kiel Simpson, 24, 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.
Referring to evidence from William Dinsdale, 70, that the pensioner had reported the pitbull terrier attacking him in May, 2006, the judge asked if police had investigated that complaint. Mr Justice Royce said: "It’s important for that to be investigated because if a report of an unlawful dog was ignored, it is a very unacceptable state of affairs."
In a statement released after the verdict, Colin Davies, Assistant District Crown Prosecutor for Merseyside, said that Ellie's death had been "a tragedy for all involved".
He added: "The CPS brought this prosecution on the basis that Jacqueline Simpson owed a duty of care towards her granddaughter Ellie. We said that she breached that duty of care by letting the dog into her house, knowing that it was potentially dangerous and capable of killing a child. Furthermore, we said that her breach of that duty of care was such that a jury would consider it to be so gross that it amounted to a crime.
"There is no doubt - and it was accepted by the defence - that Jacqueline Simpson owed a duty of care towards her granddaughter. 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.
"This prosecution cannot, of course, bring Ellie back, but when anyone is killed following an attack by a dog and where there is evidence of a criminal offence, the police will investigate and the CPS will prosecute."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2430470.ece
This story is very current and the outcome isn't very nice either. Was the case a fair one - in your opinion? What could have been done instead and what improvements would you make?
September 11, 2007
Grandmother cleared over pitbull killing
Ellie Lawrenson, 5, who died after being mauled by a dog in her family home
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42406000/jpg/_42406917_newellie203280.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/newsbeat/media/ap_pitbull205x125.jpg
Jacqueline Simpson, the grandmother of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson who was savaged by a pitbull terrier, was acquitted of her manslaughter today at Liverpool Crown Court.
Ellie was killed by the dog belonging to her uncle, Kiel Simpson, in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Mrs Simpson, 45, was charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and admitted she was partly responsible for the death because she let the dog inside the house.
Liverpool Crown Court was told that Mrs Simpson, who had smoked ten cannabis joints and drank two bottles of wine before the fatal attack on Ellie, breached a family rule by allowing the dog near the little girl. Mrs Simpson, a former taxi driver, denies breaching the rule.
Emergency crews called to the house in St Helens, Merseyside, discovered Ellie’s body with 72 injuries, and her grandmother lying in a foetal position. The dog, Reuben, was shot dead at the scene.
Related Links
Ellie's grandmother accepts blame
Ellie dog attack left floor awash with blood
Killer pitbull was 'jealous of Ellie'
The jury of seven men and five women found her innocent after a six-day trial
Hearing the verdict, Mrs Simpson wiped her eyes.
Speaking to the jury, the judge, 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.”
The jury was told that Mrs Simpson was also charged with possession of heroin found in her home after police searched it in the aftermath of Ellie’s death. Neil Flewitt, QC, for the prosecution, said it was not in the public interest to pursue the charge.
The judge asked him if the Crown Prosecution Service had ever considered a prosecution against Mrs Simpson’s son, Kiel Simpson, 24, 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.
Referring to evidence from William Dinsdale, 70, that the pensioner had reported the pitbull terrier attacking him in May, 2006, the judge asked if police had investigated that complaint. Mr Justice Royce said: "It’s important for that to be investigated because if a report of an unlawful dog was ignored, it is a very unacceptable state of affairs."
In a statement released after the verdict, Colin Davies, Assistant District Crown Prosecutor for Merseyside, said that Ellie's death had been "a tragedy for all involved".
He added: "The CPS brought this prosecution on the basis that Jacqueline Simpson owed a duty of care towards her granddaughter Ellie. We said that she breached that duty of care by letting the dog into her house, knowing that it was potentially dangerous and capable of killing a child. Furthermore, we said that her breach of that duty of care was such that a jury would consider it to be so gross that it amounted to a crime.
"There is no doubt - and it was accepted by the defence - that Jacqueline Simpson owed a duty of care towards her granddaughter. 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.
"This prosecution cannot, of course, bring Ellie back, but when anyone is killed following an attack by a dog and where there is evidence of a criminal offence, the police will investigate and the CPS will prosecute."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2430470.ece