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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Uncle admits owning dangerous dog | Uncle admits owning dangerous dog |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The uncle of a five-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to owning the dangerous dog that mauled her to death. | The uncle of a five-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to owning the dangerous dog that mauled her to death. |
| Ellie Lawrenson died when she was attacked by a pit bull terrier-type dog at her grandmother's home in St Helens. | Ellie Lawrenson died when she was attacked by a pit bull terrier-type dog at her grandmother's home in St Helens. |
| Kiel Simpson, 23, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates and pleaded guilty to owning a dog banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. | Kiel Simpson, 23, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates and pleaded guilty to owning a dog banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. |
| His mother, Jacqueline Simpson, 46, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court charged with unlawful killing. | His mother, Jacqueline Simpson, 46, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court charged with unlawful killing. |
| Simpson was warned he could face jail. The Maximum penalty under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is a six months prison term or a £5000 fine. | Simpson was warned he could face jail. The Maximum penalty under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is a six months prison term or a £5000 fine. |
| 'Morally responsible' | |
| He was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on 16 May. | He was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on 16 May. |
| Michael Fogarty, defending, said his client felt "morally responsible" for the death of Ellie and that he "wanted to crawl into a hole". | Michael Fogarty, defending, said his client felt "morally responsible" for the death of Ellie and that he "wanted to crawl into a hole". |
| The court heard the dog had been banished from the house, in the Eccleston area of St Helens, after biting Kiel Simpson's 19-year-old sister Kelsey on 21 November. Miss Simpson needed hospital treatment for puncture wounds to her thigh after the unprovoked attack. | The court heard the dog had been banished from the house, in the Eccleston area of St Helens, after biting Kiel Simpson's 19-year-old sister Kelsey on 21 November. Miss Simpson needed hospital treatment for puncture wounds to her thigh after the unprovoked attack. |
| Mr Fogarty said his client had made efforts to give the dog to someone else after the attack on his sister. | Mr Fogarty said his client had made efforts to give the dog to someone else after the attack on his sister. |
| Jacqueline Simpson has not entered a plea | Jacqueline Simpson has not entered a plea |
| "This gentleman has had a dog ever since he was a boy and he found it very difficult to hand it over for destruction, so he was asking around, but he couldn't find anybody to take it," he said. | "This gentleman has had a dog ever since he was a boy and he found it very difficult to hand it over for destruction, so he was asking around, but he couldn't find anybody to take it," he said. |
| Mr Fogarty claimed his client had left instructions for the dog to be left outside the house but this had not happened. | Mr Fogarty claimed his client had left instructions for the dog to be left outside the house but this had not happened. |
| Simpson voluntarily attended a police station on 3 January and admitted the dog was his. | Simpson voluntarily attended a police station on 3 January and admitted the dog was his. |
| The court was told Simpson has nine previous convictions, none of them for offences relating to dangerous dogs. | The court was told Simpson has nine previous convictions, none of them for offences relating to dangerous dogs. |
| Granted bail | Granted bail |
| Jacqueline Simpson did not enter a plea when she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, but her defence counsel indicated that she would plead not guilty at a later stage. | Jacqueline Simpson did not enter a plea when she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, but her defence counsel indicated that she would plead not guilty at a later stage. |
| She is also charged with possessing heroin. | She is also charged with possessing heroin. |
| The next hearing has been set for 10 August and a provisional trial date set at 3 September. Ms Simpson was granted bail. | The next hearing has been set for 10 August and a provisional trial date set at 3 September. Ms Simpson was granted bail. |
| Ellie suffered fatal head and neck injuries in the attack at the house in Knowles House Avenue, in Eccleston, on New Year's Day. | Ellie suffered fatal head and neck injuries in the attack at the house in Knowles House Avenue, in Eccleston, on New Year's Day. |
| The dog which attacked her was destroyed at the scene by Merseyside Police. | The dog which attacked her was destroyed at the scene by Merseyside Police. |