A pensioner succumbed to injuries sustained during an altercation with an XL bully dog, named Toretto, which was subsequently shot by armed police in Warrington, Cheshire. The incident, occurring last February, resulted in the death of 84-year-old John McColl, who passed away a month after the attack.
During the court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, owner Sean Garner testified that he had taken necessary precautions to ensure the safety of his dog. Garner claimed that Toretto was securely confined inside a shed on the patio of his residence on Bardsley Avenue, with a locked gate, when Mr. McColl approached the property.
Expressing his shock and sorrow, Garner mentioned his disbelief that someone would release his dog in such a manner. He described the incident as devastating and expressed deep sympathy for the victim, stating that he could not fathom the severity of the situation.
Despite claims that the dog was hungry, Garner disputed this assertion, citing the unfamiliar intrusion onto his property as a trigger for the dog’s behavior. The prosecution contended that the dog was not properly secured and accused Garner of negligence in controlling the animal.
Garner, a 31-year-old involved in a vehicle recovery business, admitted to owning the XL bully dog without the required certification. However, he denied the charge of owning a dog that caused harm while being dangerously uncontrolled. The trial is ongoing as the legal proceedings continue.
