The grandmother of dog attack victim Ellie Lawrenson was acquitted of her manslaughter yesterday. The jury of seven men and five women at Liverpool Crown Court found Jacqueline Simpson, 45, innocent after a six-day trial.

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.

Ellie lawrenson's grandmother might have been "sacrificed" by her family after the five-year-old was mauled to death by the family pet, a court heard yesterday.

Ellie Lawrenson's grandmother might have been "sacrificed" by her family after the five-year-old was mauled to death by the family pet, a court heard yesterday.

By SARAH CHAPMAN ELLIE Lawrenson's grandmother has admitted she is responsible for the little girl's death. Jacqueline Simpson, 45, told a Liverpool crown court jury she knew the dog which savaged the five-year-old girl was illegal but did not take tough steps to get rid of it.