XL Bully Owner Convicted After Fatal Mauling of Elderly Man
An XL bully breeder has been found guilty following a horrific incident in which his dog mauled an 84-year-old pensioner to death. Sean Garner, 31, was unanimously convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court after his pet, named Toretto, attacked John McColl in a driveway in Warrington.
Disturbing Details of the Attack Emerge in Court
The court heard that Mr McColl, described as seemingly "confused", mistakenly entered Garner's driveway while returning home from a pub. The XL bully, a banned breed, immediately launched a vicious assault. Neighbours desperately attempted to intervene using a brush, a golf club, and a spirit level as improvised weapons, but were unable to stop the dog, which was found "eating" the victim and guarding him "as if he were its prey or food".
Police were forced to shoot the animal ten times to bring it under control. Shockingly, during the emergency response, Garner was alleged to have "made jokes" in Facebook voice notes, having previously described the XL bully as "missing a few nuts and bolts".
Courtroom Drama and Emotional Sentencing
Garner, a father-of-three from Dinaro Close in Belle Vale, showed no reaction as the verdict was delivered after two hours and 13 minutes of jury deliberations. His family gasped and burst into tears, with some seen with their heads in their hands. Garner was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on Friday, April 17.
Judge Brian Cummings KC told Garner that he faces a "substantial prison sentence" and excused the jury from serving for ten days due to the "nature of the evidence", which he described as "certainly amongst the worst he has heard". The judge also extended condolences to Mr McColl's family, praising their "dignity and restraint throughout the trial".
Garner had previously pleaded guilty to three other offences related to the incident. The case highlights ongoing concerns about dangerous dog breeds and owner responsibility, with this tragic event resulting in a guilty verdict for causing death by being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog.
