Teenager killed in Bristol XL bully attack ‘died from neck bites’

A teenager who died in an XL bully dog attack sustained fatal injuries to her neck, the opening of an inquest into her death has heard.

Morgan Dorsett, from Shrewsbury, died following the incident outside a flat in Bristol on 26 February.

Avon Coroners’ Court heard a post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as dog bites to 19-year-old Miss Dorsett’s neck.

The dog was put down and a man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested but have since been released on conditional bail.

Alexis Camp, coroners’ officer, told the hearing at the court in Flax Bourton on Monday that Miss Dorsett’s death was confirmed at 19:29 GMT by a paramedic after the incident at Cobhorn Drive in the Withywood area of the city.

The teenager was then identified by her mother Marie Smith in the mortuary, she added.

Ms Camp said: “Morgan received significant dog bites to her face and neck, resulting in her sad death.

“I understand that there are family concerns regarding the police criminal investigation.”

Statements will now be taken from Miss Dorsett’s family, police and paramedics, with a full post-mortem report and toxicology report prepared ahead of the final inquest hearing.

Maria Voisin, senior coroner for Avon, said that because of a “pending criminal investigation” she was not going to set a date for that hearing.

Avon and Somerset Police had arrested the man and woman on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and resulting in death, as well as possession of a prohibited breed of dog.