Murder By Dog?

[ToraToraTora]

http://news.sky.com/story/screams-heard-as-boy-3-killed-by-dog-in-halstead-essex-10542742
time to start prosecuting the owners of these dogs properly?

[dannyk13]

Without intent there is no murder

[Jackdaw33]

Manslaughter by gross negligence remains an option though.

[jno]

are charges usually brought?

[EDDIE51]

We need a lot more information before any judgement such as Jackdaw has made could be substantiated. I am far from sure that 'Manslaughter by gross negligence' could be a possible charge. It would need to be shown that the dog had a history of attacking people for a start.
I am utterly appalled by this terrible incident but I am not sure what charges could be laid.

[Jackdaw33]

I merely said it was an option, but will depend on the facts. If it was a banned breed that would strengthen the case for more serious charges.

[bednobs]

someone was arrested

[Jackdaw33]

...and remains in custody, according to the last report I read.

[bazwillrun]

and no prizes or surprises for guessing the "type" of dog its most likely to be...

[Mamyalynne]

Some reports have indeed stated the type of dog.

That poor child RIP little one.

[mikey4444]

I wish people would get away from this banned dog-type idea. Any dog is capable of attacking and injuring a 3 year old child, including killing it.

In the recent incident, where a man was killed, the Police already had evidence that the dog was dangerous, but they still returned it to the owner.

We have no idea what breed is responsible this time, not if the dog was already "known" to the Police.

All dogs need to be under control at all times but on some of our housing estates, that doesn't seem to be understood. I have to run the dog gauntlet every week.

Did this Council have a Dog Warden and was it funded properly ?

[Jackdaw33]

//Some reports have indeed stated the type of dog. \\

Please enlighten us then, Mamya.

[jackthehat]

Whilst it is correct that any dog can attack and savage a person.....only some, by dint of weight and 'jaw-design', can inflict life-changing and life-taking injuries.

It seems that 'status dogs' are trained to reflect their owners 'hardness' but even well-trained and lovingly kept dogs of these types can snap and inflict awful injuries.

[Mamyalynne]

This is one link I read, I of course have no way of knowing what the truth is...


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/essex-dog-attack-death-young-8662103

[mikey4444]

Jack....a three year old child is, by very definition, not very big, and a bite to the throat would soon cause death.

But it isn't really the point. If this dog did indeed kill the child, then it quite obviously not under proper control.

I have to be careful with Little Willey these days, as he is not as tolerant of small children as he was when younger.

[Mamyalynne]

JTH, I agree - any dog can turn and cause dreadful injury, obviously the larger the animal and smaller the child the scope for fatality increases.

[mikey4444]

Mamy...from your DM link, it looks as if the child and the dog were from the same house, which makes this even more tragic.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes.

[mikey4444]

"Essex Police said the breed has yet to be established, but neighbours reported it being a big pitbull-type dog with short white hair"

[youngmafbog]

It's not the dog its the owners. Who on earth leaves any dog with a three year old?

This should never have happened.

[Jackdaw33]

Not only dogs. When I was a baby my mother had her cat put down because it was forever leaping onto my pram and she was terrified it would one day smother me. Later in life she said that she wished she had let the cat do it's job!