Woman in court after man dies in dog attack

A woman has appeared in court accused of possessing a banned pitbull terrier which fatally injured a man in east London.

Leanne McDonnell, 32, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates Court charged with owning or being in charge of the dog that attacked Akif Mustaq in Stratford on Wednesday morning.

Prosecutor Ramandeep Mahajan told the court on Friday that Mr Mustaq suffered injuries to his neck, windpipe, thumb and thigh and died the next day.

Ms McDonnell, of Shirley Road, Stratford, entered no plea and was given conditional bail to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on January 6.

The court heard the mother-of-three was friends with Mr Mustaq and the incident happened at his flat.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that Ms McDonnell failed to ensure the welfare of the dog, named Prince, because he was kept in an “inappropriate environment” with inadequate food and “objects and debris” on the floor.

He is also accused of having custody of a fighting dog which is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Ms McDonnell has been charged with three counts of keeping or being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog without causing injury on November 18, and the court heard incidents involving the same dog.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Shirley Road at 4:53 GMT on Wednesday following reports that a 42-year-old man was seriously injured.

Mr Mustaq died in hospital and the force said the dog had been seized.