Ellie Lawrenson: Mother claims dog was jealous of daughter

Sep 4 2007

A HEARTBROKEN mother told a court a pit bull terrier which mauled her little girl to death was jealous of the child.

Lindsey Simpson, 25, sobbed as she told a Liverpool crown court jury the dog which savaged her five-year-old daughter Ellie Lawrenson “looked evil”.

Ellie was attacked by the illegal dog while she was staying with her grandmother Jacqueline Simpson, 45, as her parents celebrated New Year, the court has heard.

The dog, called Reuben, grabbed the girl by the neck and inflicted 72 separate injuries.

It is alleged Simpson let the dog into the house, even though she knew it was dangerous and was aware of a family rule forbidding it in the house with children.

Simpson, 45, of Knowles House Avenue, St Helens, denies a charge of manslaughter by gross  negligence.

In the early hours of January 1 when Reuben killed Ellie at Simpson’s house, her parents had been out celebrating New Year.

The prosecution claimed defendant, who had been drinking and smoking cannabis, was alone with Ellie and let the dog in.

Simpson tried to tackle the dog during the attack and was injured herself and needed hospital treatment.

The court heard police officer shot Reuben and his owner Kiel Simpson, 24, was prosecuted and convicted of possessing the banned pit bull terrier.

Her daughter, Ellie’s mother Lindsey Simpson, 25, gave evidence against her mother.

She said Reuben was a small and playful puppy but grew in size and strength.

She said Ellie loved the dog, but Miss Simpson was wary because it wrecked her daughter’s toys and she was glad when she was expecting her second child that the animal was not going to allowed in the house after the baby was born.

Miss Simpson said: “I hated the dog.

“It destroyed everything in its sight and I thought I didn’t want it near the kids.”

Miss Simpson, who called her mother, “the best mum in the world”, said the family was aware the dog should not be allowed in the house when children were there.

She said: “It was common knowledge for it not to be near the kids.

“It was jealous of Ellie, it hated her.

“It just looked evil and you could tell it was jealous because it was outside and she was inside.

“Everybody knew what it could do if it got a child.”

Defence QC John McDermott asked Miss Simpson under cross-examination if she thought her mother has ever been cavalier with Ellie’s safety.

Miss Simpson replied: “No, but this time she has.

“I don’t think anything was done on purpose, it just happened.”

Ellie’s father Darren Lawrenson, 31, told the court he believed Jacqueline Simpson was responsible for his daughter’s death.

He said he thought when he last waved goodbye to Ellie and told her he loved her she was going to bed and he would see her the following day.

He said about the child’s grandmother: “I trusted that woman 100 per cent with my child.

“We left our daughter with her because we trusted her.

“I know someone was responsible for my child’s death.

“Ellie’s the victim and we are the victims.

“Without doubt she ended Ellie’s life.”

Ellie’s aunt Kelsey Simpson, 20, told the court she had been attacked by Reuben in November 2006 as she was in the living room.

She said the animal’s jaws locked onto her thigh as her mother Jacqueline tried to drag the dog away.

She was left with bite marks and scratches and said after that incident she decided she did not want to be in the house with the dog and it was agreed the pet was not to come in when the children were there.

She said Ellie had loved Reuben, but said: “If he had bitten me, he could bite anyone.”

(Proceeding)