Pit bull that killed Northamptonshire baby '˜could get out of cage on its own'

The American pit bull attacked and killed six-month-old Molly Mae Wotherspoon at her home in Morning Star Road, Daventry, on October 3, 2014.

Her grandmother Susan Aucott, aged 55, last week admitted being in charge of a dog that killed Mollie but she appeared in court again yesterday for legal argument over disputed facts ahead of sentencing next month.

The court heard yesterday that the dog - called Bruiser - was kept in a cage that had a hole in and that he could easily escape from it.

Michaela Williams, her defence solicitor, said Aucott was heard to say in footage from a police officer’s body-worn camera - which was recorded after emergency services arrived - that Bruiser “gets out”.

Mrs Williams said Aucott was merely describing how Bruiser escaped on that one occasion.

But, after watching the footage again, James House QC said he disagreed.

He said: “She said, ‘I knew he was out ‘cos’ he gets out through the bottom of his cage’.

“She was admitting what he always does.”

Justice Sue Carr was told that Aucott had been drinking wine the night Molly Mae died but nobody knew for sure how much she had had.

But the court heard Aucotts version of events via Mrs Williams in which she describes hearing Brusier moving around the kitchen but being unconcerned.

Mrs Williams said: “I heard the kitchen door opening and I got up and went to it.

“I could see Bruiser’s nose and was going to put him back in his cage but he ran straight past me, along behind the sofa and to the baby.”

Aucott was again granted conditional bail.

She and Molly Mae’s mum, Claire Riley - who pleaded guilty on Monday to owning a dog that was dangerously out of control - will be sentenced next month.