Toddler’s dog mauling death ‘the most horrendous I have seen’, coroner says
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Version 0 of 1. A coroner has said the death of an 11-month-old girl mauled by a pit bull terrier-type dog was the “most horrendous” he had seen in more than 20 years doing the job. Ava-Jayne Corless suffered “unsurvivable” multiple injuries inflicted by 57kg (nine stone) Snoop as she slept in the bedroom of her mother’s then boyfriend’s home in Blackburn in February. Her mother, Chloe King, 21, and her ex-partner, Lee Wright, 27, said they had fallen asleep on the settee downstairs and believed Wright’s dog was in the kitchen blocked in by a speaker and a golf bag stand. Both were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child neglect before they were bailed and later told they would not face those charges. An inquest at Blackburn coroner’s court heard that police considered King to be a victim in the case following questioning but did pass a file on Wright to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging advice. Officers called to the scene on the evening of 10 February noticed a strong smell of cannabis in the front room. Senior investigating officer DI Peter Simm told the hearing that a “cannabis cultivation setup” was found with 11 plants in a second bedroom, along with associated drugs paraphernalia. Weapons including ornamental swords, knuckledusters and a cricket bat were also seized. Blood testing showed Wright was under the influence of cannabis at the time of the toddler’s death. King tested negative for alcohol and drugs in her system. Returning his verdict, the coroner, Michael Singleton, said the facts as described met the definition in coronial law of an accident, but said he did not find the word appropriate in this case and to use it would be “an affront” to the memory of Ava-Jayne. He said: “The conclusion I shall use is this was an attack by a pit bull terrier-type dog. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of Ava-Jayne for their most grievous loss. “I also extend sympathies to those people directly involved in the aftermath of these most horrific events. I recognise that those circumstances were life-changing. “I recognise that every death I deal with represents a personal tragedy for someone, but in more than 20 years of doing this job I have to say the circumstances of the death of Ava-Jayne represent by far the most horrendous that I have had experience of.” The inquest at Blackburn King George’s Hall was told that Wright, who did not attend, is awaiting criminal proceedings next year on allegations he possessed a banned breed of dog and was concerned in the supply of cannabis. Wright denied both offences in interview and maintained that Snoop was an American bulldog and not a banned pit bull terrier-type animal. He also told detectives he was not a drug dealer and grew cannabis for personal use. Simm told the inquest: “I made a decision to release Chloe King without charge. I was of the opinion she was a victim herself of what happened that night. She was a very young mother who cared deeply for her child.” He said Wright had owned a number of dogs and several had come to the attention of police and the RSPCA “due to their poor treatment and lack of control”. Simm told the coroner that neighbours had not expressed worries about Snoop being aggressive and that RSPCA officials had not expressed concerns that the dog was dangerous. But the inquest heard a statement from Wright’s neighbour, who said her cat was killed by Snoop in March 2012. She said: “I saw Lee Wright’s dog with my cat in its mouth. The dog was running backwards and forwards shaking the cat around. I was hysterical.” During police investigations, it was alleged that Snoop was known in the neighbourhood by the name “Killer”. Vet Sian Smith told the hearing that she recalled Wright referring to Snoop as a “cat killer” while the animal was being treated for a broken leg. She said the dog had also shown aggression to male members of staff but she and other female employees had no difficulties. Singleton said he had considered whether a verdict of unlawful killing could be returned by reason of gross negligence manslaughter. He said that needed to be looked at with foresight rather than hindsight and required a gross breach in duty of care, which amounted in law to a criminal act. He also needed to consider whether there was an obvious and immediate risk of serious injury to Ava-Jayne. Singleton said he shared the view of the CPS that the facts did not amount to gross negligence. On Tuesday King, a student, described her waking “nightmare” at discovering her daughter’s lifeless body on a bloodstained double bed. After the inquest, she said in a statement: “I am relieved that the inquest has finally concluded. “Myself and Dean [Corless, the girl’s father] are still grieving for the loss of Ava-Jayne, who we loved very, very deeply. There is still a hole in my heart. “I now want to be left to pick up the pieces of my life.” |