Elderly man dies after dog attack (From Harrow Times)

Elderly man dies after dog attack

9:35pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

An 83-year-old man has died after being attacked by a pitbull-type dog that had escaped from a neighbour's garden, Scotland Yard said.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the attack on Leslie Trotman in Brentford, west London.

Mr Trotman suffered bite wounds to his right leg in the attack on January 23, receiving further injuries when the dog knocked him over.

He was taken to hospital and released later that day, but his son found him dead in his home on January 29.

The incident was reported to police shortly after it happened, and officers spoke to Mr Trotman following his release from West Middlesex Hospital.

Scotland Yard decided to treat the matter as manslaughter after a post-mortem examination on February 2 revealed that Mr Trotman had died from a haemorrhage, caused by a ruptured spleen.

A police spokesman said: "Officers believe these injuries were sustained during the attack by the dog."

The matter has now been taken on by the force's homicide and serious crime command under Detective Chief Inspector Charles King.

Mr Trotman had been in his back garden in Rowan Road when he was attacked by the dog. It is not clear how the animal managed to escape and enter Mr Trotman's property.

Police arrested the suspect before releasing him on bail, pending further inquiries. Three dogs have now been seized from an address in Rowan Road.