[UPDATED] Owner of dog who killed Vistabella girl, 11, to be charged

THE male relative held in connection with the death of 11-year-old Rachel Bhagwandeen – who was mauled to death by a dog in Vistabella – could face three or more charges, police say.

On August 25, Bhagwandeen and her nine-year-old brother Jaylon were watching TV and the dog, which belonged to one of their relatives, entered the room.

She told her brother to run and that she would deal with the dog. Relatives rushed to try saving her, but to no avail.

The dog has reportedly since been put down.

Bhagwandeen’s funeral was held on September 3.

On Monday, police told Newsday a 32-year-old male relative – the owner of the dog – had been arrested over the weekend and was due to participate in an ID parade in the afternoon.
This was rescheduled to Tuesday at 2 pm owing to a robbery at Pennywise Plaza, La Romaine on Monday which left six dead.

After the ID parade, a file with the recommended charges was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Police did not reveal the recommended charges to Newsday.

The possible charges the relative can face are outlined in the Dog Control Act. It lists Class A dogs as American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa and Fila Brasileiro.

The dog that mauled Bhagwandeen was an American Bully mix, according to the family.
Class A dogs must be registered, licensed and trained by a certified dog trainer according to sections six, seven and sixteen, respectively.

It is not known whether the owner’s dog was registered and/or licensed.
But if it was not, the owner could be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to three years in prison, and if the dog was not trained, up to $50,000 and a year in jail.

If the enclosure in which the dog was kept in did not meet legal requirements, the owner can be fined up to $50,000 and sentenced to a year in jail under section nine of the act.

Under section 11, the owner could be fined $75,000 and up to three years in jail if an appropriate insurance policy were not taken out to cover injuries caused by the dog.

When Newsday visited the Bhagwandeen family in Vistabella in August, they said more than one household resided there.For this, the owner can be fined up to $50,000 and be sentenced to one year in jail.

Section 19 addresses what happens when a class A dog injures or kills a person.
In 19(2) it says if a Class A dog kills or causes the death of a person, without reasonable cause, the owner has committed and offence and can be fined up to $200,000 and sentenced to ten years in jail.

This story was originally published with the headline Relative of Vistabella girl, 11, killed by dog faces charges. It has since been updated. Read original here:

THE male relative held in connection with the death of 11-year-old Rachel Bhagwandeen – who was mauled to death by a dog in Vistabella – could face three or more charges.

On August 25, Bhagwandeen and her nine-year-old brother Jaylon were watching TV and the dog, which belonged to one of their relatives, entered the room.

She told her brother to run and that she would deal with the dog. Relatives rushed to try to save her, but to no avail.

The dog has reportedly since been put down.

Bhagwandeen's funeral was held on September 3.

On Monday, police told Newsday a 32-year-old male relative had been arrested over the weekend and was due to participate in an ID parade in the afternoon.

This was rescheduled to Tuesday at 2pm owing to a robbery at Pennywise Plaza, La Romaine on Monday which left six dead.

After the ID parade, a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).