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Armed help plea over killer dog Armed help plea over killer dog
(about 1 hour later)
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. A policeman called to a house where a dog had just killed a child radioed for urgent armed back-up in case the animal attacked him, a court has heard.
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. Sergeant Paul Hudson said the floor of Jackie Simpson's St Helens home was awash with blood from her five-year-old granddaughter Ellie Lawrenson.
In a statement read out at Liverpool Crown Court he said he feared the dog would smash through the window. In a statement read out at Liverpool Crown Court he said he feared the dog would smash through a window.
Mrs Simpson, from St Helens, denies manslaughter through gross negligence. Ms Simpson denies manslaughter through gross negligence.
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. The court heard that Ms Simpson had been babysitting for Ellie but had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs, mixing wine, marijuana, sleeping tablets and anti-depressants.
The jury was told Ms Simpson would have had about 140 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in her system at the time of the fatal attack. The limit for driving a car is 80 milligrams.
The living room floor was laminated and awash with blood Sgt Paul HudsonThe living room floor was laminated and awash with blood 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. Sgt Hudson described the dog, a pit bull terrier, as being covered in blood and in a "frenzied" state following the attack at Ms 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." "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 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. The jury of seven men and five women were told earlier in the trial that Ms Simpson had broken a family rule by letting the dog, called Reuben, into the house when Ellie was visiting.
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. The court has 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. Ellie suffered more than 72 injuries when the dog locked its jaws around her throat in the living room. It was later shot dead by police.
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. The case continues.
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.