Riot shields used against dogs after boy, 3, killed
Daniel Twigg was attacked after letting himself into a fenced yard where the two dogs - described as being large mastiffs - were kept on Carr Farm, Rochdale, on 15 May 2022. He died from injuries including bites to the neck.
His parents Joanne Bedford and Mark Twigg have denied gross negligence manslaughter and offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
PC Bethany Justice, who was one of the first emergency service workers at the scene, told their trial Ms Bedford was "hysterical" when they arrived.
"She was screaming 'my baby, by baby'," PC Justice told the hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
In footage from the officer's bodyworn camera, when asked about what happened, Ms Bedford was heard saying: "We were all out in the garden. Daniel went in the yard and when we heard the dogs we went in there straight away."
John Elvidge KC, for the prosecution, earlier told the jury Daniel was left unsupervised with the dogs for at least 15 minutes, and that Ms Bedford "failed to give the police any account for leaving Daniel unsupervised for so long".
Jurors were told when ambulance crews arrived at the house they were confronted by several caged dogs barking and jumping as well as a Staffordshire bull terrier on the loose.
PC Justice said police officers made a "protective wall with riot shields" around paramedics as they treated Daniel.
Daniel's family had moved to the farm in March 2022 to look after the property and several dogs who belonged to the farm's owner, Matthew Brown, the court has heard.
There were 12 dogs on the property in total who the court heard were "aggressive" and living in squalid conditions.
In a statement read to the court, senior paramedic Joseph O'Leary said when he arrived he could hear "screaming and crying".
He said: "Daniel was laying on his back on a stone bench.
"He was not breathing and had multiple wounds to his neck, which were difficult to pack with dressing or put pressure on."
The court heard paramedics were able to twice restart Daniel's heart on the journey to hospital but he was in cardiac arrest by the time they arrived.
Doctors made the decision to end resuscitation efforts about 20 minutes later.
The trial continues.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Riot shields used against dogs after boy, 3, killed
Police had to use riot shields to protect paramedics from two dogs as they desperately tried to save a three-year-old boy who was mauled to death, a court has heard. Daniel Twigg was attacked after letting himself into a fenced yard where the two dogs - described as being large mastiffs - were kept on Carr Farm, Rochdale, on 15 May 2022. He died from injuries including bites to the neck. His parents Joanne Bedford and Mark Twigg have denied gross negligence manslaughter and offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act. PC Bethany Justice, who was one of the first emergency service workers at the scene, told their trial Ms Bedford was "hysterical" when they arrived. "She was screaming 'my baby, by baby'," PC Justice told the hearing at Manchester Crown Court. In footage from the officer's bodyworn camera, when asked about what happened, Ms Bedford was heard saying: "We were all out in the garden. Daniel went in the yard and when we heard the dogs we went in there straight away." John Elvidge KC, for the prosecution, earlier told the jury Daniel was left unsupervised with the dogs for at least 15 minutes, and that Ms Bedford "failed to give the police any account for leaving Daniel unsupervised for so long". Jurors were told when ambulance crews arrived at the house they were confronted by several caged dogs barking and jumping as well as a Staffordshire bull terrier on the loose. PC Justice said police officers made a "protective wall with riot shields" around paramedics as they treated Daniel. Daniel's family had moved to the farm in March 2022 to look after the property and several dogs who belonged to the farm's owner, Matthew Brown, the court has heard. There were 12 dogs on the property in total who the court heard were "aggressive" and living in squalid conditions. In a statement read to the court, senior paramedic Joseph O'Leary said when he arrived he could hear "screaming and crying". He said: "Daniel was laying on his back on a stone bench. "He was not breathing and had multiple wounds to his neck, which were difficult to pack with dressing or put pressure on." The court heard paramedics were able to twice restart Daniel's heart on the journey to hospital but he was in cardiac arrest by the time they arrived. Doctors made the decision to end resuscitation efforts about 20 minutes later. The trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Boy, 3, 'left alone' before fatal dog attack on farm Man and woman charged over boy's dog attack death
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man convicted of raping and murdering woman in 1967 gets life sentence
A 92-year-old British man convicted of the 1967 rape and murder of a woman in her home has been sentenced to life in prison. Ryland Headley was found guilty by Bristol Crown Court in southern England of the rape and murder of Louisa Dunne, who was 75 years old when Headley killed her nearly six decades ago. Headley was convicted on Monday and the verdict brought an end to a cold case that remained unsolved for 58 years. He was sentenced on Tuesday. He was told during sentencing that he had committed a 'pitiless and cruel act,' according to PA Media news agency. The judge, Derek Sweeting, sentenced Headley to life in prison, setting a minimum term of 20 years. 'You broke into her home, you sexually assaulted her and in doing so, you caused her death,' Sweeting said, per PA Media. 'You may not have intended to kill, but you planned to rape her, and you brutally attacked her. When you did so, you met her screams and struggles in a force sufficient to kill. 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'Headley never featured in (the) original investigation as he lived outside the area where the house-to-house enquiries were carried out,' senior investigating officer with the Avon and Somerset police, Detective Inspector Dave Marchant, said in a statement. Marchant said the 'extensive and meticulous work' that was done by the officers in the initial investigation paved the way for the police to solve the crime. He said that as part of the re-investigation, 20 boxes of original material were reviewed by the police. The CPS said that all but one witness in the case have died over the nearly six decades since the crime was committed, but that old statements were read in court as part of the trial. The CPS said that Headley's other offenses were also considered during the trial. 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The Office for National Statistics says 71,227 rapes were recorded by police in 2024. According to Rape Crisis, a UK charity, just 2.7% of these cases resulted in charges being brought by the end of 2024. Official government data shows that it currently takes on average 344 days for the police to charge the suspected offender, 30 days for the CPS to authorise the charge, and 336 days for the court to complete the case. CNN's Olivia Kemp contributed reporting.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Judge tells 92-year-old he will die in prison after conviction in UK's oldest solved cold case
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