Ellie grandmother scapegoat claim

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/6983549.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Ellie Lawrenson's grandmother may have been made a scapegoat by her relatives after the five-year-old was killed by the family dog, a court has heard.

John McDermott QC, for Jackie Simpson, asked the jury at Liverpool Crown Court to consider whether she had "effectively been sacrificed".

However, prosecutor Neil Flewitt QC, said she had been "reckless and cavalier" while looking after Ellie.

Ms Simpson, 45, from St Helens, denies manslaughter by gross negligence.

'Nightmare case'

In his closing speech at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr McDermott said: "Have part of the family invented part of this case to distance themselves from what happened?

"Has Jackie Simpson... effectively been sacrificed?"

Ellie died in the early hours of New Year's Day after Ms Simpson allowed her son's pit bull terrier Reuben into her house on Knowles House Avenue.

This wasn't an accident or minor misjudgement, it was reckless and cavalier and grossly negligent conduct. It was the direct cause of Ellie Lawrenson's death Neil Flewitt QC, prosecutor

The dog, which had been involved in two other attacks, inflicted 72 injuries on Ellie when it locked its jaws around her throat and shook her.

Mr McDermott asked: "Could anyone have realistically foreseen what was about to happen in that moment when she got up to turn off the lights?"

Describing the proceedings as a "nightmare case for all involved" the barrister told the jury: "Finding her guilty would be a harsh, harsh judgment."

Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, said loving Ellie was no excuse for her grandmother.

He said that Ms Simpson, who had drunk two bottles of wine and smoked 10 joints prior to the attack as well as taking a cocktail of other drugs, had broken a family rule by letting Reuben into the house while Ellie was there.

'Reckless and cavalier'

Mr Flewitt said her judgment had been clouded by drinking, smoking and taking prescribed medication.

"There can be no doubt that when you put yourselves in that position and consider all those facts, you are driven to the conclusion that she breached that duty of care to Ellie Lawrenson," he said.

"This wasn't an accident or minor misjudgement, it was reckless and cavalier and grossly negligent conduct. It was the direct cause of Ellie Lawrenson's death."

The jury is expected to retire on Monday to consider its verdict.