Pitbull Was Punched and Kicked Prior to Killing Ellie Lawrenson

[HoundedOne]

Grandmother accepts responsibility for death of Ellie Lawrenson in dog attack tragedy.
A court in Merseyside has been told that family members tormented the dog who went on to kill Ellie Lawrenson.
Jackie Simpson who is on trial for the manslaughter of Ellie described how Kiel Simpson would kick and punch the animal when he was in a bad mood.
Simpson had previously told the court she did not believe she had broken family rules by allowing the dog into the home one day when it fatally mauled Ellie.
She also went on to describe how Ellie enjoyed playing with Reuben, the dog who killed her, saying:
“If she had a ball, she’d kick it and he’d bring it to her or if he took one of her little toys, she’d chase them and get them off him.”
Jackie Simpson denies manslaughter but she did admit she was 'responsible' for the death of the five year old.
Asked if she accepted responsibility for Ellie's death Simpson replied: "Yes, because I let the dog in.
"If things had gone the way they should have that day I wouldn't have had the kids anyway.
"I opened the door and it's my fault.
"I never thought the dog would do anything to Ellie."
Neil Flewitt QC, cross-examining her: "You let that child down, didn't you?"
"Yes," she answered.
She then went onto explain how her son Kiel Simpson had punched and kicked Reuben shortly before the dog killed Ellie.
She said: "Kiel was in a mood and punched and kicked the dog.
"He then left the house, I had never seen him do that before.
"He punched him in the head and kicked him on his back leg, the dog yelped."
Jackie Simpson told the court she had only seen Kiel once since Ellie's death.
The case continues.

http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?sid=15&aid=2197&vid=1&npage=2
Link to Story.

This story is very touching.. *silent*

[molliesmum]

This story is very sad. It breaks my heart to think what that poor baby went through.
It leads back to: Is it bad owners or bad dogs?
I love the pitt bull breed. But they have a bad rep in England!!!

[applesmom]

It's tragic is what it is!

The account of the hitting does make it easier to understand why the dog had already been declared dangerous. But IMO no dangerous dog; whether it's been abused or not is worth risking the life of a child!

The grandmother had been court ordered to keep him away from the kids and yet she deliberately let him in! What was she thinking, or was she thinking at all?:confused:

[skunkstripe]

That is indeed very sad. Often people who abuse pets that way are likely to be physically abusive to people as well. :mad: That poor dog and that poor, poor child! :mad:

[HoundedOne]

That is indeed very sad. Often people who abuse pets that way are likely to be physically abusive to people as well. :mad: That poor dog and that poor, poor child! :mad:


Agreed skunk, I think the owners were to blame not the breed / dog!

[applesmom]

Agreed skunk, I think the owners were to blame not the breed / dog!

I'll agree the owners were to blame for either making the dog dangerous or allowing him to become dangerous and not doing anything about it.

But the fact remains that the dog is the one that actually mauled the little girl and killed her even though the grandmother provided the opportunity for it to happen.

Once a dog of any breed becomes unpredictable and dangerous, even if it's an innocent victim itself, it should never be allowed around children or strangers. If the owners choose to deal with it fine, but it's also their duty to protect future innocent victims.

We probably shouldn't assume that the dog lived a lifetime of abuse any more than we should assume the child lived a lifetime of abuse.

[HoundedOne]

True, your right in saying we cant assume the dog lived a lifetime of abuse more or as much as we should assume the child lived a lifetime of abuse.
This case is a 50% - 50%.

[sheplovr]

That is truly a sad touching story of human abuse to blame a poor dog. Such abuse is just uncalled for and he needs put away. How humans can be soo cruel is beyond my thinking. I think some people need alot of help, yes if dog abuse, human abuse, they do not know the difference cause they are very ill?

[MegBonnie]

The grandmother had been court ordered to keep him away from the kids and yet she deliberately let him in! What was she thinking, or was she thinking at all?:confused:

I don't think she was thinking - she was high on drugs - not exactly the best person to leave your baby girl with in the first place was it? :( So tragic.

[sheltie lover]

This story is so sad, god only knows what that poor baby was thinking when she was going through the events. Why did the Grandmother let the dog in when it was already deemed dangerous, is beyond me ! The parents of the child are just as much to blame as from what I have read on this in the past they left the little girl at the grandmothers house to go out and party, why would any parent leave their precious child in a house with such a vicious dog that had already attacked in the past !!!! God Bless the little ellie !!

[Gideon's_Girl]

Thats absolutely horrible. how sad!