Shapers
04-26-2007, 07:15 PM
A MAN was warned yesterday that he could face jail, after he admitted owning the pit bull terrier which killed his five-year old niece.
Ellie Lawrenson was attacked while staying at her grandmother's home in St Helens, in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Her uncle, 24-year-old Kiel Simpson, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court to owning a dog banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, an American pit bull terrier.
Simpson, the brother of Ellie's mother, Lindsey Simpson, will be sentenced on May 16.
He was released on unconditional bail, but bench chairman Valerie Bennett warned him: "Although we know you are remorseful, we are going to adjourn the case for reports, with all sentencing options open, including custody."
The court heard that Reuben had been involved in two previous incidents.
In May last year, the dog attacked a neighbour's terrier. And last November Reuben bit Kiel's younger sister, Kelsey Simpson.
Michael Fogarty, defending, said his client, a convicted drug dealer, felt "morally responsible" for the death of Ellie, and that he "wanted to crawl into a hole".
Simpson lived in a house belonging to his mother, 46-year-old Jacqueline Simpson, in the Eccleston area of St Helens.
She was baby-sitting Ellie on the night in question and appeared before Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, charged with unlawful killing by gross negligence.
The case was adjourned until August.
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=killer-dog-s-owner-could-go-to-jail%26method=full%26objectid=18966660%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html
Ellie Lawrenson was attacked while staying at her grandmother's home in St Helens, in the early hours of New Year's Day.
Her uncle, 24-year-old Kiel Simpson, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court to owning a dog banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, an American pit bull terrier.
Simpson, the brother of Ellie's mother, Lindsey Simpson, will be sentenced on May 16.
He was released on unconditional bail, but bench chairman Valerie Bennett warned him: "Although we know you are remorseful, we are going to adjourn the case for reports, with all sentencing options open, including custody."
The court heard that Reuben had been involved in two previous incidents.
In May last year, the dog attacked a neighbour's terrier. And last November Reuben bit Kiel's younger sister, Kelsey Simpson.
Michael Fogarty, defending, said his client, a convicted drug dealer, felt "morally responsible" for the death of Ellie, and that he "wanted to crawl into a hole".
Simpson lived in a house belonging to his mother, 46-year-old Jacqueline Simpson, in the Eccleston area of St Helens.
She was baby-sitting Ellie on the night in question and appeared before Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, charged with unlawful killing by gross negligence.
The case was adjourned until August.
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=killer-dog-s-owner-could-go-to-jail%26method=full%26objectid=18966660%26siteid=50 061-name_page.html