Man in court two years after two dogs killed pensioner in attack
Lucille Downer, 85, was attacked in her garden and 'dragged around'.
A 44-year-old man has appeared in court accused of being in charge of two dogs which were dangerously out of control, resulting in the death of a pensioner.
Darren Pritchard, 44, from Smethwick, was charged with an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act after his neighbour, Lucille Downer, 85, was attacked in her garden.
Two American Bulldogs rushed through a hole in her fence on Good Friday in 2021 and ‘dragged her around’.
West Midlands Police said at the time that Mrs Downer suffered ‘multiple’ injuries, with her family saying in a statement that they would ‘miss her dearly’.
Pritchard was also charged with possession of and intent to supply cannabis.
He was not asked to submit any pleas during his appearance today.
During a nine-minute hearing at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Pritchard spoke only to confirm his personal details.
Mrs Downer, who suffered with dementia, had spent most of lockdown isolated at her home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, and was looking forward to seeing her family for her 86th birthday.
Worried locals rushed over to help when they heard her cries, but she could not be saved.
Magistrates decided jurisdiction of the case, sending it for a plea hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on April 18.
The bench also imposed conditional bail on Pritchard, ordering him to live and sleep at his home address, not to attend Boundary Avenue, and not to contact witnesses.
Police have said the dogs were humanely destroyed after the incident.
An inquest held previously was told Mrs Downer, a retired cook, was found in her back garden and was confirmed deceased at the scene.
A forensic post-mortem examination was carried out and the medical cause of death was found to be a neck injury caused by a dog bite.
Following her death, Lucille’s family said: ‘Lucille was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who spent her working years as a cook at Bromford House Care Home in West Bromwich.
‘Lucille was born in Jamaica and emigrated to the UK in her early 20s.
‘Since arriving in the UK, Rowley Regis has always been her home and her family will miss her dearly.’
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