The parents of a three-year-old who died in a savage dog attack at a farm knew he was capable of entering the pen where he was mauled, a jury has heard.
Daniel Twigg suffered horrific injuries in the ‘furious and prolonged’ attack at Carr Farm, Rochdale, on May 15, 2022.
His parents Mark Twigg, 43, and Joanne Bedford, 37, are on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of Daniel’s manslaughter.
The prosecution allege their negligence meant the toddler was ‘alone and unsupervised’ when he entered a yard where two large, ‘dangerous’ and ‘powerful’ 50kg guard dogs were kept.
Although the dogs – a Cane Corsa called Sid and Tiny a Boerboel type dog – belonged to farm owner Matthew Brown it’s alleged the couple were looking after the them at the time and should have known the risks to Daniel.
But they had ignored warnings from the RSPCA that the animals were a danger, it’s claimed.
The jury have heard that gates to the dog pen were secured only with a Karabiner clip, rather than a padlock, which could be pressed open
John Elvidge KC, prosecuting, said Daniel was ‘attracted’ and ‘confident’ around dogs kept at the farm but – due to his age – was incapable of understanding the risk they presented.
Daniel Twigg, three, died from his injuries after being attacked by dogs on a farm in Milnrow, Rochdale on May 15, 2022
Daniel’s parents Mark Twigg, 43, (left) and Joanne Bedford, 37, (right) pictured arriving for a previous court hearing, both deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter and being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control
‘He had also demonstrated his curiosity and, the prosecution say, his ability to work the small Karabiner clip, which only had to be pressed open.
‘His parents were on clear notice of the risk that if unsupervised he could enter the pen occupied by Sid and Tiny.’
Mr Elvidge said there had also been previous incidents at the farm when Daniel’s older brother was bitten by dogs.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the couple had provided various accounts of what happened, although Twigg had was not there at the time as he was working.
After receiving the news that Daniel could not be resuscitated at hospital, he allegedly told a police officer: ‘I don’t even know what’s happened…I know he’s a little s*** and he opens stuff himself.’
And Bedford later told a detective and a hospital paediatrician that Daniel ‘must have walked and unlocked the gate’ by unclipping it and ‘had previously done this and been told off for it’.
In a police interview months later, the jury heard, Bedford then claimed the couple didn’t know Daniel was capable of opening the gate on his own and had ‘never’ done so.
The jury also heard how Bedford had given conflicting accounts of how long Daniel had been out of her sight and whether she was aware he’d left the farmhouse, with the prosecution claiming he was left unsupervised in the pen ‘for at least 20 minutes’.
Police at Carr Farm in Milnrow, near Rochdale, following Daniel Twigg’s death there on May 16, 2022
– Police at the scene in Milnrow, Rochdale on May 16 2022.
CCTV from a neighbours’ property played in court showed the youngster moving around inside for a few moments before disappearing from view.
At the same time, a dog in an adjacent pen becomes agitated which, the prosecution say, coincided with the attack on Daniel, who suffered catastrophic injuries, principally to his head and neck.
The jury heard how Bedford, who dialled 999, had been ‘hysterical’ and crying after the attack and told police who arrived at the scene: ‘Kill that dog’.
She had attempted to give Daniel, who was found seriously injured by his older sister, chest compressions on a stone bench in the rear yard.
Although it’s not known whether both dogs were involved in the attack, the jury previously heard, Sid was ‘likely’ responsible.
He was shot dead at the scene and a post mortem examination showed that he had not eaten for 12/24 hours.
Tiny, meanwhile, had been described as ‘dangerous’ and ‘ticking time bomb’ by a neighbour.
Mr Elvidge said Daniel’s parents had breached the duty of care towards him, which they dispute, and had negligently allowed him to enter dog pen and that was a ‘significant contribution’ to his death.
A cane corso dog (left) and a boerboel (right) – both stock images
Addressing the jury, Andrew Thomas KC, defending Twigg, said they needed to sure there was a ‘serious and obvious risk’ to Daniel.
He added that Sid and Tiny did not belong to his parents, that Daniel would have had to ‘reach through’ the gate to unclip it, and Twigg wasn’t even home at the time of the attack.
Twigg and Bedford, of Radcliffe, Bury, both deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter and being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control.
The trial, due to last three weeks, continues.
