The Law Is An Ass!

I do not usually use this journal for commenting about things in the news but I have been so annoyed over the outcome of a recent trial that I felt I just had to express my opinion.

My opinion is that the law is an ass! (Dickens).

On New Year's Day, a little girl aged five, was mauled to death by her Uncle's Pit Bull Terrier.  The understanding in the family was that the dog and the girl should always be kept separate as the dog had already bitten a family member quite some time earlier and also attacked another dog.  The neighbours lived in terror of the animal and of its owner.

The little girl, pictured above, was staying overnight with her Grandmother.  I only give you the facts as they appear in the newspapers and on the t.v.

The dog had, it was alleged,  been  hit and kicked in the head by the girl's uncle and apparently a film was shown in the courtroom of him doing so.

On the night the little girl met her death she had been left in the care of her Grandmother.  The dog was outside.  The Grandmother drank two bottles of wine and smoked ten joints.  She then let the dog in.  She let it in with the full knowledge that the family had agreed that it should not be allowed near the little girl.

Yesterday she was cleared of manslaughter  by gross neglect and walked free from court.  Her son, the owner of the dog, cannot be charged with manslaughter as he was not there the night the dog attacked.  Also the law only extends to attacks by dogs in public and not on "private" property.

The Grandmother had already served a lengthy prison sentence for dealing class "A " drugs and the uncle, the owner of the dog was also jailed for similar offences.  A large amount of money was found in their home after the attack which, in all likelihood, came from dealing.

The breeding ,selling and owning of Pit Bulls has been illegal in this country for around sixteen years under "The Dangerous Dogs Act".  Unlike the animal that killed the girl, the act has no teeth.  It has proved to be worthless. There are more of these dogs around now than ever.  They are seen as a status symbol, people like to appear "hard" by owning them and dog fighting is an ever growing menace. What good is an Act that cannot be enforced?

An innocent and pretty little girl died in the most appalling way at the turn of the year.  Now, it would seem, nobody is responsible.  The law is powerless to do anything.

I would never have left a child in the care of people such as these in the first place, whether there had been a dog on the premises  or not.  You cannot tell me that the judgement of the Grandmother was not impaired by all that alcohol and cannabis. What Grandmother would drink two bottles of alcohol and smoke drugs whilst her Grand-daughter was under her care?  She had a duty to her Grand-daughter, she failed miserably in that duty and let a killer into the house.  She gets no punishment.

The uncle had already been prosecuted under the "Dangerous Dogs" act for owning an illegal animal.  The judge at the trial questioned why he had not been charged with manslaughter but as I mentioned above, because he was not there at the time and because it was a private residence no further action could be taken against him.

I am angry, her family failed this little girl and now the law has failed her as well.

True, the Grandmother has to live the rest of her life with the knowledge of what she did, but is this punishment enough?  To me, no it is not.  A message needs to be sent out to people who keep any dangerous dogs, that the full weight of the law will fall on them and they will get heavy custodial sentences if their animals attack or kill someone.

I feel angry and so sad for the little girl.  She died a hideous death under the supposed protection of those she loved and trusted, those with whom she felt safe. There is no trust like the trust of a child.  That trust was abused.  The law does nothing, the law seems powerless. 

Sleep in peace, little angel.

So, I ask you your feelings on the matter.  Do you think the Grandmother should have been jailed?  Do you think the Uncle should have been charged with manslaughter?  What are your views on banned dogs in general?