On December 4, 2024, Leanne McDonnell, 32, was charged with owning a dog dangerously out of control after her pitbull attacked Akif Mustaq, 42, at her flat in Stratford, East London.

Mustaq suffered severe injuries to his neck, windpipe, thumb, and thigh, and tragically died in the hospital shortly after the attack.

Emergency services transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and his family has been notified.

Police were called to Shirley Road at approximately 4:53 AM following reports of the serious dog attack, and the dog was subsequently seized by authorities.

CCTV footage captured McDonnell being escorted from her property in handcuffs shortly after the incident, highlighting the urgency of the police response.

Witnesses reported hearing screams before police arrived, with neighbors describing the dog as a large, fearsome American Pit Bull.

Just days before this fatal incident, the same dog had attacked a schoolboy on November 18 while he was walking home from school.

Witnesses recounted the boy, around seven years old, screaming in terror as the dog lunged at him, causing panic and distress.

Statistics indicate that a significant percentage of dog attack fatalities involve breeds that are legal under the Dangerous Dogs Act, which has faced criticism for its focus on breeds rather than individual behavior.

The Dangerous Dogs Act, introduced in 1991, aimed to address dog attacks but has been criticized for its effectiveness and focus on specific breeds.

McDonnell was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on January 6, 2025, where she did not enter any pleas during her initial court appearance.

Despite the traumatic experience, the schoolboy involved in the earlier attack was released and appeared unharmed, although shaken.