Ellie Lawrenson: Gran found not guilty

Sep 11 2007

Ellie Lawrenson

The grandmother of St Helens dog attack victim Ellie Lawrenson has been acquitted of her manslaughter.

A jury of seven men and five women at Liverpool Crown Court found Jacqueline Simpson, 45, innocent after a six-day trial.

Ellie was killed by her uncle Kiel Simpson’s pit bull terrier on New Year’s Eve after Simpson, who had smoked 10 joints and drunk two bottles of wine, let it in.

Ellie, killed at Simpson’s home in St Helens, had 72 injuries.

Hearing the verdict, Simpson wiped her eyes. Speaking to the jury, the judge said: “This is an unusual case which had given rise to very strong emotions.

“Suffice to say, the greatest sentence passed in this case is a life sentence of regret this lady has passed on herself.”