ST. HELENS, England, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A British grandmother has been cleared in the dog-mauling death of her 5-year-old granddaughter.
Jacqueline Simpson was found innocent of manslaughter by gross negligence after a six-day trial at Liverpool crown court, The Guardian reported Monday.
Simpson has been accused of failing to take proper care of her granddaughter, Ellie Lawrenson, by allowing a pit bull terrier that had previously attacked a family member to enter the house. The dog caused Lawrenson 72 injuries, mostly on the head and neck.
The court was told that Simpson had consumed two bottles of wine, taken anti-depressants and smoked cannabis in the hours leading up to the incident. She suffered bite injuries to her right arm and thumb.
"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," the judge told the jury.
