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Funeral held for dog attack girl Attack dog owner carries coffin
(20 minutes later)
The funeral of a five-year-old girl who was killed by her uncle's pit bull terrier has taken place. The coffin of a five-year-old girl killed by a pit bull terrier was carried into church by the dog's owner.
Ellie Lawrenson died in the early hours of New Year's Day at the St Helens home of her grandmother who was injured fighting off the dog. Ellie Lawrenson, five, was fatally mauled by the animal at her grandmother's house in St Helens, Merseyside, on New Year's Day.
Jackie Simpson, aged 46, suffered severe arm injuries trying to stop the animal which was later destroyed. The dog belonged to her uncle, 23-year-old Kiel Simpson, who also lives at the house.
Ellie's funeral took place at Christ Church in Eccleston, St Helens, on Thursday afternoon. Mr Simpson was one of four pallbearers at Ellie's funeral at Eccleston Christ Church, St Helens, on Thursday.
The dog was shot dead by police marksmen called to the house in Knowles House Avenue. The coffin arrived at the sandstone church on a white carriage, pulled by two white horses.
Ellie's uncle, Kiel Simpson, was questioned by police over the incident but was not arrested. Ellie's parents, Darren Lawrenson and Lyndsey Simpson, and Ellie's grandmother Jackie Simpson travelled to the service in black limousines, with Miss Simpson's siblings, Kiel and Kelsey.
Merseyside Police said they were aware of two previous complaints about the dog. Jackie Simpson was babysitting Ellie when her parents, who also have a baby son, went out to celebrate the New Year.
The animal was subsequently found to be among the breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. About 60 mourners were in the church for the funeral.
Kiel Simpson, was questioned by police over the incident but was not arrested.
The animal, which was destroyed, was subsequently found to be among the breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.