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Ellie's grandmother 'took drugs' Armed help plea over killer dog
(about 1 hour later)
A grandmother had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs when her five-year-old granddaughter was mauled to death by a pit bull terrier, a court heard. A policeman called to a house where a girl was killed by a dog was so scared of the animal that he radioed for urgent armed back-up, a court heard.
Ellie Lawrenson died in the attack at her grandmother Jackie Simpson's home in St Helen's on New Year's Day. Sergeant Paul Hudson was one of the first at the scene of the attack on five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson at her grandmother Jackie Simpson's house.
Mrs Simpson, 45, had taken a mixture of wine, marijuana, sleeping tablets and anti-depressants, the jury at Liverpool Crown Court was told. In a statement read out at Liverpool Crown Court he said he feared the dog would smash through the window.
She denies a charge of manslaughter through gross negligence. Mrs Simpson, from St Helens, denies manslaughter through gross negligence.
Ellie suffered more than 72 injuries when the dog locked its jaws around her throat and shook her in the living room of her grandmother's home in Knowles House Avenue. 'Frenzied, barking'
An expert told the jury that Ms Simpson would have had about 140 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood at the time of the fatal attack. The legal drink-drive limit is 80 milligrams. Sgt Hudson described the dog, a pit bull terrier, as being covered in blood and in a "frenzied" state following the attack at Mrs Simpson's house on Knowles House Avenue in the early hours of New Year's Day.
It appeared frenzied, barking and baring its teeth at me. I was worried that it could run at the window and easily break the glass. Sgt Paul Hudson
"I heard the dog in the garden and was concerned for our safety if it got in. The dog's chest was red with blood," Sgt Hudson said in his statement.
"It appeared frenzied, barking and baring its teeth at me. I was worried that it could run at the window and easily break the glass."
"The living room floor was laminated and awash with blood. It was as though it had been washed with blood."
The jury of seven men and five women were told earlier in the trial that Mrs Simpson had broken a family rule by letting the dog, called Reuben, into the house when Ellie was visiting.
Drugs cocktail
The court had been told that Reuben had been banished outside whenever the youngster visited as it had attacked two people, including Ellie's aunt, in the months running up to her death.
Ellie suffered more than 72 injuries when the dog locked its jaws around her throat and shook her in the living room. It was later shot dead by police.
Mrs Simpson denies manslaughter through gross negligence
The court heard that although Mrs Simpson had been babysitting for Ellie, she had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs - a mixture of wine, marijuana, sleeping tablets and anti-depressants.
An expert told the jury that Mrs Simpson would have had about 140 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood at the time of the fatal attack. The legal drink-drive limit is 80 milligrams.