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Police to test killer dog
02/01/2007 10:40 - (SA)
London - Merseyside police will carry out tests on Tuesday on a dog which mauled a five-year-old girl to death in northern England, to see if it was covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The dog, which officers described as a "pit bull terrier type dog", attacked Ellie Lawrenson and her 46-year-old grandmother in the early hours of Monday morning at a house in St Helens, near Liverpool in northwest England.
Ellie died at the house from serious head and neck injuries.
Her grandmother, named by police as Jackie Simpson, is stable in hospital after surgery for damage to her arms and severe injuries to her thumb and elbow.
The dog, believed to be owned by Ellie's uncle, was destroyed immediately.
Media reports said the council had warned the owner about its behaviour last year after it attacked another dog.
A police spokesperson said: "The dog is being examined as part of the investigation and in a bid to determine its breed," said.
Affects whole community
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, owners of pure-bred pit bull terriers can be held responsible for their pet's actions.
Police said Ellie did not usually live with her grandmother, but was staying there for New Year's Eve.
Superintendent Jon Ward said: "This is such a tragic incident.
"When a child loses her life in such circumstances, it has an effect on the whole community."
Last September, five-month-old Cadey-Lee Deacon died after being savaged by her family's two Rottweilers in Leicester.
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