Ellie Lawrenson: Gran made a 'scapegoat'

Sep 7 2007

Ellie Lawrenson’s grandmother might have been “sacrificed” by her family after the five-year-old was mauled to death by the family pet, a court heard today.

John McDermott QC, for Jacqueline Simpson, 45, said the grandmother could have been “distanced” by her family - who might have “invented” part of the prosecution case to lessen their involvement.

In his closing speech at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr McDermott said: “Have part of the family invented part of this case to distance themselves from what happened?”

He added: “Has Jacqui Simpson, the grandmother in this case, effectively been sacrificed?”

Ellie, aged five, died in the early hours of New Year’s Day after Simpson allowed her son’s pit bull terrier into the house.

The powerful dog, Reuben, which had been involved in two other attacks, launched itself at the girl.

It inflicted 72 injuries - and Simpson was injured too in the attack - her flesh being found on the ceiling later by forensic experts.

Simpson denies manslaughter by gross negligence.

The seven men and five women of the jury had heard her family had a rule in which Reuben would not be allowed into Simpson’s house in St Helens, Merseyside, in Ellie’s presence.

The prosecution claimed Simpson broke the rule, but she insisted the only rule was that Reuben be kept away from her baby grandson Josh.

Simpson, who drank two bottles of wine and smoked 10 cannabis joints on the tragic day, could not have known Reuben would attack Ellie, said Mr McDermott.

The dog sprang on to Ellie when Simpson got up to turn her living room lights off.

Despite the dog biting Simpson’s youngest daughter six weeks before killing Ellie and allegedly attacking a neighbour, he asked: “Could anyone have realistically foreseen what was about to happen in that moment when she got up to turn off the lights?”

Describing the proceedings as a “nightmare case for all involved” the barrister told the jury: “Finding her guilty would be a harsh, harsh judgment.”

Neil Flewitt QC, for the prosecution, said loving Ellie was no excuse for her grandmother.

He said her judgment was clouded by drinking, smoking and taking prescribed medication.

Telling the jurors they should convict, he said: “There can be no doubt that when you put yourselves in that position and consider all those facts, you are driven to the conclusion that she breached that duty of care to Ellie Lawrenson.

“A moment’s thought would have led to the inevitable conclusion that if that dog had attacked Ellie it could quite easily have killed her.

“This wasn’t an accident or minor misjudgment, it was reckless and cavalier and grossly negligent conduct. It was the direct cause of Ellie Lawrenson’s death.”

The jury are expected to retire on Monday.