A ST ALBANS man has pleaded guilty to four charges related to last year’s fatal mauling of four-year-old Ayen Chol.
Lazor Josevski, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of owning a dog that attacked and killed a person, two counts of owning a dog that attacked and caused serious injury, and one count of owning an unregistered dog.
Four other charges are expected to be dropped.
Ayen was mauled to death by a pit bull mastiff in St Albans on August 17 last year.
Josevski’s lawyer told Sunshine Magistrates Court last Tuesday the dog was owned by Josevski’s son Nick, who was overseas at the time of the attack.
The dog escaped the backyard of the home and confronted two adults and a child, who ran into the neighbouring home.
It attacked Ayen’s five-year-old cousin, Nyadeng Goaer, before mauling Ayen as she held on to the leg of her mother Jaclin Appok.
Another cousin Angelina Mayout, 31, suffered bite wounds to her hands and arms while trying to fight off the dog.
The dog was destroyed after the attack.
Ayen’s death prompted new laws to be rushed through Parliament, including changes that could see the owners of dangerous dogs that cause death jailed for up to 10 years.
Josevski, charged before the new laws were in place, faces a maximum penalty of $4500.
He has reportedly written to Ayen’s parents to apologise and offer compensation.
A plea hearing will be heard on May 31.
Coroner Kim Parkinson will conduct an inquest in August.
