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| Girl killed by pit bull terrier | Girl killed by pit bull terrier |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A five-year-old girl has been killed and her grandmother seriously injured by a pit bull terrier at their family home on Merseyside. | A five-year-old girl has been killed and her grandmother seriously injured by a pit bull terrier at their family home on Merseyside. |
| Ellie Lawrenson was found bleeding to death in the living room of the house in St Helens shortly before 0430 GMT. | Ellie Lawrenson was found bleeding to death in the living room of the house in St Helens shortly before 0430 GMT. |
| Her grandmother Jackie Simpson, 46, who is recovering in hospital, managed to lock the dog in a run outside the home in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston. | Her grandmother Jackie Simpson, 46, who is recovering in hospital, managed to lock the dog in a run outside the home in Knowles House Avenue, Eccleston. |
| The pit bull terrier was destroyed by police immediately after the attack. | The pit bull terrier was destroyed by police immediately after the attack. |
| The owner, believed to be Ellie's uncle, was warned about the dog's behaviour just months before the attack, St Helens council said. | The owner, believed to be Ellie's uncle, was warned about the dog's behaviour just months before the attack, St Helens council said. |
| It is not clear why the dog attacked the child and her grandmother but an investigation into the incident is under way. | It is not clear why the dog attacked the child and her grandmother but an investigation into the incident is under way. |
| Ms Simpson, who shared the home with Ellie's aunt and uncle, was bitten on her arms and legs. | Ms Simpson, who shared the home with Ellie's aunt and uncle, was bitten on her arms and legs. |
| Serious injuries | Serious injuries |
| Her injuries are described as "serious but not life threatening". Police said she may have to undergo surgery at Whiston Hospital where she is being treated. | |
| Police are investigating whether fireworks frightened the dog | Police are investigating whether fireworks frightened the dog |
| Superintendent Jon Ward, operational manager for the St Helens region, said: "This is such a tragic incident. | Superintendent Jon Ward, operational manager for the St Helens region, said: "This is such a tragic incident. |
| "We attended the scene, by which stage the dog had been shut away down the side entrance of the house. | "We attended the scene, by which stage the dog had been shut away down the side entrance of the house. |
| "When officers arrived it became apparent from a very early stage that the girl had tragically died as a result of the attack. | "When officers arrived it became apparent from a very early stage that the girl had tragically died as a result of the attack. |
| "The ambulance service did what it could for her but unfortunately she died at the scene." | "The ambulance service did what it could for her but unfortunately she died at the scene." |
| Ellie was just the loveliest girl you could hope to meet Jackie Simpson's fiance Dog control laws and pit bulls | Ellie was just the loveliest girl you could hope to meet Jackie Simpson's fiance Dog control laws and pit bulls |
| Police dog handlers who arrived minutes later decided the dog, called Reuben, had to be shot as soon as possible. | Police dog handlers who arrived minutes later decided the dog, called Reuben, had to be shot as soon as possible. |
| Mr Ward added: "They made a decision as to whether it was safe to control the dog and seize and safely remove it. | Mr Ward added: "They made a decision as to whether it was safe to control the dog and seize and safely remove it. |
| "The assessment was that that couldn't be done safely so the dog was humanely destroyed at the scene around 5.40am this morning." | "The assessment was that that couldn't be done safely so the dog was humanely destroyed at the scene around 5.40am this morning." |
| Detectives understand Ellie's parents were not in the house at the time of the attack. | Detectives understand Ellie's parents were not in the house at the time of the attack. |
| Police believe Ellie's parents went out to celebrate New Year's Eve, leaving Ellie with her grandmother, and when they returned Ellie asked to stay there. | Police believe Ellie's parents went out to celebrate New Year's Eve, leaving Ellie with her grandmother, and when they returned Ellie asked to stay there. |
| They are then thought to have left the property at about 0340 GMT, shortly before the attack. | They are then thought to have left the property at about 0340 GMT, shortly before the attack. |
| Fireworks investigation | Fireworks investigation |
| According to police, Ellie's uncle was not at home when the attack happened. | According to police, Ellie's uncle was not at home when the attack happened. |
| However, Mr Ward said Ellie regularly stayed at her grandmother's house so police believe she knew the dog well. | However, Mr Ward said Ellie regularly stayed at her grandmother's house so police believe she knew the dog well. |
| DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991 Drafted at speed after string of dog attacks, and much-criticisedBans breeding and sale/exchange of pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila BrasileiroAlso bans all dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose"Also covers any dog "dangerously out of control"But this applies only to public property, or private property where the dog is not permittedOut-of-control dogs can be seized and destroyed, and the owners faces a fine or up to six months in prison. If the dog injures someone, that can be up to two years. | DANGEROUS DOGS ACT 1991 Drafted at speed after string of dog attacks, and much-criticisedBans breeding and sale/exchange of pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila BrasileiroAlso bans all dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose"Also covers any dog "dangerously out of control"But this applies only to public property, or private property where the dog is not permittedOut-of-control dogs can be seized and destroyed, and the owners faces a fine or up to six months in prison. If the dog injures someone, that can be up to two years. |
| A large part of Knowles House Avenue was cordoned off with police tape on Monday afternoon as forensic officers continued to examine the end-of-terrace house where Ellie was mauled. | A large part of Knowles House Avenue was cordoned off with police tape on Monday afternoon as forensic officers continued to examine the end-of-terrace house where Ellie was mauled. |
| A white and yellow forensic tent was attached to the front door of the property which is believed to be owned by Ellie's great-grandmother. | A white and yellow forensic tent was attached to the front door of the property which is believed to be owned by Ellie's great-grandmother. |
| A police spokeswoman said Ellie's body was removed from the house at about1400 GMT. | A police spokeswoman said Ellie's body was removed from the house at about1400 GMT. |
| She confirmed that several members of Ellie's family had arrived at the property in the morning wanting to see her body. | She confirmed that several members of Ellie's family had arrived at the property in the morning wanting to see her body. |
| She said: "They were obviously distressed and distraught at not being able to see Ellie, but we couldn't let them in while the body was still in situ and while forensic officers were still at the scene. | She said: "They were obviously distressed and distraught at not being able to see Ellie, but we couldn't let them in while the body was still in situ and while forensic officers were still at the scene. |
| "There was some shouting, there are a lot of high emotions flying around." | "There was some shouting, there are a lot of high emotions flying around." |
| Shocked and upset | Shocked and upset |
| Ms Simpson's fiance, who did not wish to be named, said the family were suffering from shock but were comforting each other. | Ms Simpson's fiance, who did not wish to be named, said the family were suffering from shock but were comforting each other. |
| "They are all in shock, they're too upset to talk," he added. | "They are all in shock, they're too upset to talk," he added. |
| "Ellie was just the loveliest girl you could hope to meet." | "Ellie was just the loveliest girl you could hope to meet." |
| Dorothy Watkinson who lives near the family home told BBC News that Ellie was used to dealing with the dog. | Dorothy Watkinson who lives near the family home told BBC News that Ellie was used to dealing with the dog. |
| "I've seen her at the gateway with it, stroking it. It never turned on her like that." | "I've seen her at the gateway with it, stroking it. It never turned on her like that." |
| It is unknown at this stage whether Ellie was asleep when the dog pounced but officers will be investigating whether New Year's Eve fireworks may have scared the dog, prompting the attack. | It is unknown at this stage whether Ellie was asleep when the dog pounced but officers will be investigating whether New Year's Eve fireworks may have scared the dog, prompting the attack. |
| Pit bull terriers are among a number of dog breeds banned from being bred, sold or exchanged under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. | Pit bull terriers are among a number of dog breeds banned from being bred, sold or exchanged under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. |
| The law also bans all dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose." | The law also bans all dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose." |