Man Found Guilty After XL Bully Fatally Attacks Elderly Man in Driveway
A Liverpool man has been found guilty following a horrific incident where his XL Bully dog attacked and killed an 84-year-old pensioner who accidentally wandered into his driveway. Sean Garner, 31, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court after his dog Toretto savaged John McColl in February last year.
Fatal Attack on Returning Pensioner
The tragic incident occurred when Mr McColl, returning home from a pub visit, mistakenly entered Garner's driveway on Bardsley Avenue in Warrington. Despite neighbors attempting to intervene using improvised weapons including a brush, golf club, and spirit level, the XL Bully continued its attack, guarding the elderly victim "as if he were its prey or food."
Emergency services arrived quickly but unarmed officers were unable to reach Mr McColl. Firearms officers were eventually required to shoot the dog ten times - nine times with a pistol and once with a shotgun - to end the attack. A second female XL Bully found on the property was also shot as a precautionary measure.
Owner's Disturbing Behavior During Emergency
While emergency services fought to save Mr McColl's life, Garner was reportedly making jokes in Facebook voice notes about the situation. The court heard how he avoided police for two days after the attack, with family members allegedly advising him to lie about what had happened.
Prosecutor David Birrell told the court: "He made light of the situation. He was making jokes while doctors were valiantly trying to save John McColl's life." Garner eventually handed himself in but initially claimed his dog had "never shown any sign of aggression," despite evidence that Toretto had previously fought with another XL Bully and injured Garner's mother.
Medical Consequences and Investigation Findings
Mr McColl was rushed to hospital following the attack but succumbed to his injuries a month later. A veterinary examination of Toretto revealed disturbing findings - the dog's stomach contained only human flesh and pieces of plastic, with no dog food present.
Garner, who described himself as an XL Bully breeder, claimed during the trial that he had left Toretto securely locked in a shed with a bolted garden gate. He suggested Mr McColl might have released the dog himself before being attacked, a claim the prosecution described as "ludicrous."
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The jury of eight men and four women took just two hours and 13 minutes to unanimously find Garner guilty of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog causing death. He had previously pleaded guilty to three other related offences.
Judge Brian Cummings KC remanded Garner into custody until sentencing on April 17, telling him: "Plainly, that will be a substantial prison sentence." The judge also excused the jury from serving again for ten years due to the distressing nature of the evidence, which he described as "certainly amongst the worst he has heard."
Community Impact and Breed Concerns
The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about dangerous dog breeds in residential areas. XL Bullies are banned under UK legislation, yet Garner admitted during proceedings that both dogs on his property were of this prohibited breed.
Judge Cummings offered condolences to Mr McColl's family, praising their "dignity and restraint throughout the trial." Family members were visibly emotional during proceedings, with some seen in tears as the verdict was delivered.
Garner showed no reaction as the guilty verdict was announced, though family members gasped and cried in the public gallery. As he was led to cells following the hearing, one woman called out "love you Sean" while the defendant had earlier told his family "love yous all" before learning his fate.
