Grandmother Cleared Over Child Dog Attack Death

The grandmother of five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was mauled to death by a pit bull terrier on New Year's Day, has been cleared of her manslaughter.

Jacqueline Simpson, 45, had been looking after Ellie at her home in St Helens in Merseyside at the time of the attack.

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that the dog, which belonged to Ellie's uncle Kiel Simpson, had been allowed into the house by Mrs Simpson on the night Ellie died.

It attacked the five-year-old, inflicting 72 injuries, before it was shot dead by police.

The court heard how Mrs Simpson had drunk two bottles of wine and smoked ten cannabis joints on the night of the attack.

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."

Mrs Simpson was also charged with possession of heroin, which was found during a search of her home following Ellie's death.

Kiel Simpson, 24, was jailed for eight weeks in May after he pleaded guilty to owning a dog banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act,

(KMcA)