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Lexi Branson attack: Killer dog was stabbed to death Lexi Branson attack: Mother stabbed dog in bid save daughter
(35 minutes later)
A pet dog that killed a four-year-old girl died from stab wounds, Leicestershire Police have confirmed. A mother stabbed her pet dog in an attempt to save her four-year-old daughter from a fatal attack, Leicestershire Police have said.
Lexi Branson was attacked in the lounge of a flat in Rowena Court, Mountsorrel, near Loughborough, on Tuesday at about 12:15 GMT. She died later in hospital. The dog mauled Lexi Branson in the lounge of a flat in Rowena Court, Mountsorrel, near Loughborough, on Tuesday at about 12:15 GMT.
She died later in hospital.
In a statement, Leicestershire Police said the dog was a bulldog, which it said was not a breed listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.In a statement, Leicestershire Police said the dog was a bulldog, which it said was not a breed listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The dog was stabbed during attempts to save Lexi, police said. Det Supt David Sandall, from Leicestershire Police, said the dog was a stray which had been rehomed from Willow Tree Kennels by the family about two months ago.
Det Supt David Sandall, from Leicestershire Police, said: "This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lexi at this extremely difficult time. It was called Mulan and was between six and eight years old.
"The flat remains cordoned off to allow for a forensic examination and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Lexi and this will include the history of the dog." He said Lexi had been off sick from school on Tuesday and her mother Jodie Hudson was in the room at the family home when the attack happened.
She stabbed the dog with a kitchen knife in an attempt to stop the attack.
"This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lexi at this extremely difficult time," said Det Supt Sandall.
"The flat remains cordoned off to allow for a forensic examination and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Lexi, and this will include the history of the dog."
'Bubbly little girl''Bubbly little girl'
The girl's mother Jodie Hudson and grandmother Kerry Hudson said the little girl would be sadly missed and never forgotten. The girl's mother Jodie Hudson and grandmother Kerry Hudson said she would be sadly missed and never forgotten.
In a statement, they said: "Lexi was a bubbly, bright little girl.In a statement, they said: "Lexi was a bubbly, bright little girl.
"She fought for her life from the moment she was born as she was born three months prematurely. She's been taken from us so tragically."She fought for her life from the moment she was born as she was born three months prematurely. She's been taken from us so tragically.
"She will be sadly missed, she will be our shining star in the sky and she will never be forgotten." "She will be sadly missed, she will be our shining star in the sky and she we will never be forgotten."
David Williams, head teacher of Christ Church and St Peter's C of E primary school, where Lexi had just begun, said: "The whole school has been devastated by Lexi's death."
He said bereavement counsellors had been called in to speak to pupils.