Mom Recounts ‘Petrifying’ Moment Finding Son Mauled by Dogs

A heart-wrenching courtroom scene unfolded this week in Rochdale, England, as Joanne Bedford, mother of 3-year-old Daniel Twigg, described the “petrifying” moment she found her little boy face down in a farm dog pen, bleeding from severe neck puncture wounds.

Bedford was testifying in the trial against her and her partner, Mark Twigg, who are charged with gross negligence manslaughter in connection with Daniel’s death in May 2022.

A Day That Turned Tragic in a Dog Pen

Daniel had been playing under his sister’s supervision in their farmhouse kitchen, at a property they were caring for as part of an agreement with the farm owner. Bedford went upstairs briefly to fetch clothes and first passed through the bathroom. When she entered Daniel’s room, she heard her daughter’s screams. The little girl shouted, “Mum, Daniel’s in the pen. He is face down and he’s got blood everywhere.” Bedford’s emotional testimony recounted that she rushed to the pen, removed the dogs, and cradled her son as she called for an ambulance.

Emergency Response and Charges

Paramedics, protected by riot shields to control the aggressive dogs, could not save Daniel. The couple, who had moved into the farmhouse two months earlier to care for the property and the farm dogs, are accused of failing to secure the animals despite warnings from animal welfare officials. Prosecutors insist that Daniel’s death was “utterly foreseeable” given the known risks.

Two Large Guard Dogs Involved

Court evidence detailed two powerful guard dogs—a Cane Corso and a Boerboel—owned by the farm owner but cared for by the couple. Additionally, Bedford, who was seven months pregnant at the time, described how one dog stood over Daniel’s body as she rushed in. CCTV footage reportedly confirmed Daniel’s presence in the pen shortly before the fatal attack, and emergency calls were delayed, taking place nearly 20 minutes after the incident began.

Allegations of Negligence

The prosecution argues that Bedford and Twigg ignored RSPCA warnings about the dogs’ aggressive behavior and failed to secure them properly. Moreover, the couple leased the farm in March 2022 and remained responsible for daily care, even after the owner was imprisoned. Daniel died during a weekend when neither parent was present onsite, raising questions about their oversight and responsibility.

Trial Moves Forward

Both parents deny the charges. The trial continues in Manchester Crown Court and is expected to delve deeper into the details of Daniel’s final moments and the parents’ awareness of risk. The case highlights the dangers of leaving young children unsupervised near large, potentially dangerous animals—and the devastating consequences when warnings go unheeded.

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