Dog death family murder charge
12.00, Tue Sep 26 2006
A man has appeared in court charged with attacking the grandfather of a baby mauled by two rottweilers and the murder of his girlfriend.
Scott Walker, 26, was remanded in custody by Leicester magistrates.
John Brightwell, 50, and Debra Larn, 47, were stabbed at their home in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, early on Sunday. Ms Larn was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Brightwell is the grandfather of five-month-old baby girl Caydee-Lee who was killed by two rottweilers guarding the Rocket pub in New Parks, Leicester, just hours before the knife attacks. The two incidents are thought to be unrelated.
Cadey-Lee's heartbroken father Ryan Brightwell said he is "in pieces" after learning that his father had been attacked on the same night he discovered his baby daughter had died.
He said: "I rushed to the hospital to find Cadey-Lee was dead. The next thing I know, my Dad is being rushed into the same hospital. I'm told he is critical and his girlfriend is dead.
"It's like something out of a horror movie. It's just too horrible for me to take it all in. I'm shattered - in pieces.
"I just can't believe that this has happened. The two most horrible moments you can imagine and they had happened on the same night.
"I have lost my beautiful daughter, and I nearly lost my Dad, too."
Cadey-Lee was staying at the pub with her mother Amy Deacon and her mother's boyfriend Lee Burchell. The pub is run by Mr Burchell's mother Lesley Glaze.
In a statement issued through police, Ms Deacon and Mr Burchell said: "Words cannot express our devastation at what has happened. We just cannot believe that Cadey-Lee is gone.
"She was such a beautiful little girl. We loved her so much and we just can't accept that something like this could have happened. How do you come to terms with such a tragedy?
"People have been incredible. Our family and friends, and the many people who have left flowers and toys outside The Rocket - it has been overwhelming.
"We would just like to say a thank-you to all those people. Your love and support is a comfort to us during this terrible time."
Police said the guard dogs attacked the baby when they got into the pub's living quarters through a fire escape which had been left open by mistake.
Nothing ever happens in leicester