Grandmother charged in fatal mauling

LIVERPOOL, England, April 3 (UPI) -- The grandmother of an English girl fatally mauled by a pet dog has been charged with manslaughter.

Jackie Simpson also faces a charge of possession of a controlled drug, The Daily Mail reported. Simpson's son, Kiel, was charged with possession of a dangerous dog.

Ellie Lawrenson, 5, suffered fatal head and neck injuries on New Year's Day when she was attacked by the dog, a pit bull-terrier mix. She had been staying with her grandmother in St. Helen's near Liverpool while her parents went out for New Year's Eve.

Investigators said there had been two previous complaints about the dog's behavior and that the breed is barred by the Dangerous Dogs Act.