Millennium Chambers is pleased to report a successful outcome secured by Tess McCarthy, who defended a dog owner at Harrow Crown Court.
The defendant was indicted with being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. It was alleged that she had failed to keep her three dogs on a lead in a dog-friendly park in London, leading to a member of the public sustaining a bite to their leg.
Tess highlighted exaggerations and inconsistencies in the complainant’s account, in particular the marked lack of damage to clothing which was covering the injury.
The defence relied on a break in the chain of causation, where the complainant’s actions had interfered and prompted the dogs to change course when let off the lead. It was also questionable whether the injury was sustained in the way described, or was attributable to the dogs at all.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty within 20 minutes.
Tess McCarthy appeared for the defence and was instructed by Peter Bonner & Co.
