A mum whose newborn baby was tragically mauled to death by the family's out-of-control dog will not face a trial, a court heard.
Little Elon Jase Ellis-Joynes was just 12 days old when he was attached by the Chow Chow-Cross pooch named Teddy at his home in September 2020.
His dad Steven Joynes, 36, has pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog causing injury resulting in death at a hearing in December 2021, Yorkshire Live reports.
Prosecutors told Sheffield Crown Court on March 7 that the same charge against his mother Abigail Ellis, 28, would now be dropped.
She had denied the charge and was due to stand trial in July. A not guilty verdict would be entered in her case when Joynes is sentenced later this month.
Richard Thyne, prosecuting solicitor, said: “Mr Joynes’s plea amounts to conclusive evidence that he was the owner, he was in control and it was his failings that caused the dog to be dangerous."
He said this meant there was no longer a realistic chance of conviction if the prosecution of Ellis continued.
The sitting judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, bailed both defendants until March 31, when Joynes will be sentenced by the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC.
An inquest opening into Elon's death, held in 2020, heard he was still alive when his mother frantically called an ambulance.
Doncaster Coroner's Court heard that she told the 999 call handler that Elon was breathing, but was "really poorly" and was "bleeding from his leg or his stomach".
Elon, who was born on September 1, 2020, was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
Floral tributes were left at the family's mid-terrace house as well-wishers and neighbours offered their support for the family.
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