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Ellie 'mothered' killer pit bull Killer dog was 'jealous' of Ellie
(about 2 hours later)
Ellie Lawrenson "loved and mothered" the pit bull terrier that mauled her to death, a court has heard. The mother of a five-year-old girl who was mauled to death by a pit bull terrier has told a court how the dog was "jealous of her and hated her".
The five-year-old was attacked at grandmother Jackie Simpson's home in St Helen's, on New Year's Day. Lindsey Simpson, 25, told the jury at Liverpool Crown Court it was jealous of her daughter because it was not allowed in the house when she visited.
Ellie's aunt Kelsey Simpson told the jury that the little girl used to put her arms around the dog and hug him when he was a puppy. Ellie Lawrenson died in the attack at her grandmother Jackie Simpson's home in St Helen's, on New Year's Day.
Jackie Simpson denies the charge of manslaughter through gross negligence at Liverpool Crown Court. Jackie Simpson denies the charge of manslaughter through gross negligence.
The 46-year-old, who had taken drugs and alcohol on the day, went against a family agreement not to allow the dog - Reuben - into the home. Jackie's daughter, Lindsey, told the jury the dog, called Reuben, would be outside whenever her daughter visited the home in Knowles House Avenue.
Seventy-two injuries Impending birth
Kelsey Simpson, who had also been attacked by the dog, told Liverpool Crown Court: "At first everyone loved the dog - he was tiny and everyone mothered him, especially Ellie." "It was jealous of her and hated her," she said.
Under cross examination she said "Ellie loved him" and told defence QC John McDermott that Ellie "put her arms around him, pulled his tail and gave him hugs and cuddles". "I used to look through the windows and say 'Never let this dog get in the house'.
But she stressed this was all before the dog turned six-months-old. "It would look in and I could see it was jealous because it was outside and she was in.
Ellie Lawrenson suffered more than 72 injuries when the dog locked its jaws around her throat and shook her in the living room of her grandmother's home in Knowles House Avenue. Mrs Simpson denies manslaughter through gross negligence
The trial continues "It was common knowledge for the dog not to come in. Everybody knew what it could do if it got a child."
The court was told Ms Simpson, who has another child, Joshua, had said she wanted the dog to leave the house well before he mauled Ellie.
She said she used Joshua's impending birth in September 2006 to force the family to get rid of the dog because she did not want it around her children.
She told the jury: "I couldn't wait for Josh to be born because it wasn't coming in the house again - I hated the dog."
As her mother sat in the dock weeping, Ms Simpson added there was no reason to tell her mother to keep the dog away from Ellie on New Year's Eve.
Every time we went through the back door we would make sure the door was locked and the key out because Ellie loved the dog Lindsey Simpson, Ellie's mother
She knew the rule and had a hand in making it, she told the court.
"The decision was made by me, mum, Kiel, Kelsey and Darren that when Josh was born the dog would be in the garden," she said.
"Every time we went through the back door we would make sure the door was locked and the key out because Ellie loved the dog and the key would be out of her reach.
"Mum agreed to that arrangement."
The court has heard how Jackie Simpson, 46, had taken drugs and alcohol on the day that Ellie was killed.
The youngster, who used to put her arms around the dog and hug him when he was a puppy, suffered 72 injuries when the dog locked its jaws around her throat and shook her in the fatal attack.
The dog was later shot by police.
The trial continues.