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Killer dog 'tormented' by family Ellie's grandmother accepts blame
(9 minutes later)
The dog that savaged five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson to death had been tormented by family members, a court has heard. Ellie Lawrenson's grandmother has told a court that she was responsible for the five-year-old's death after she was mauled to death by the family dog.
Jackie Simpson, on trial for the manslaughter of her granddaughter, said her son Kiel had once lashed out at the dog shortly before it bit Ellie's aunt. Jackie Simpson, 45, was baby-sitting Ellie when she let the pit bull terrier into her house on Merseyside. It attacked the child causing 72 injuries.
On other occasions, Ms Simpson said Kelsey had tormented the animal. Asked if she accepted blame, Ms Simpson said: "Yes, because I let the dog in."
Ms Simpson, 45, from St Helens, Merseyside denies a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence. Ms Simpson, from St Helens, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court and denies manslaughter by gross negligence.
Earlier she said she had broken no family rules by allowing the dog inside her home where he attacked Ellie. 'Family rules'
Simpson told the jury at Liverpool Crown Court she had no reason to suspect any danger if the pit bull terrier was allowed inside. Earlier she told the court that the dog - Reuben - had been tormented by family members.
Ellie was mauled to death on New Year's Day by the dog at Ms Simpson's home, suffering more than 72 injuries when the dog locked its jaws around her. Ms Simpson, said her son Kiel had once lashed out at the dog shortly before it bit Ellie's aunt, Kelsey.
The dog was later shot dead by police. On other occasions, Ms Simpson said Kelsey herself had tormented the animal.
She told the jury at Liverpool Crown Court that she had broken no family rules by allowing the dog inside her home where he attacked Ellie.
Simpson said she had no reason to suspect any danger if the pit bull terrier was allowed inside.
Ellie was mauled to death on New Year's Day at Ms Simpson's home. The dog was later shot dead by police.