Man in court for Leicester knife attack

LONDON, Sep 26 (Reuters) A man will appear in court today charged with murdering a woman and seriously injuring her partner whose granddaughter was mauled to death by two Rottweiler dogs the day before.

The 26-year-old man is accused of stabbing to death Debra Larn, 47, and knifing her partner, a 50-year-old man named by media as John Brightwell, in Leicester on Sunday.

On Saturday, Brightwell's five-month-old granddaughter Cadey-Lee Deacon was killed by two Rottweiler dogs at the living quarters of the Rocket pub in the New Parks area of the city.

Police said there was no connection between the baby's death and the knife attack.

''The two investigations are entirely separate,'' said Chief Superintendent Steve Pitts of Leicestershire Police.

The murder suspect is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates Court later today.

The family of the baby said yesterday that words could not express their devastation.

''We cannot just believe that Cadey-Lee is gone'', said her mother Amy Deacon and Deacon's partner Lee Burchell, the pub manager, in a statement.

Pitts said the dogs had attacked the child while her mother and Burchell were moving furniture out of the pub.

''It appears that a fire escape door was left mistakenly open and allowed the family's dogs, Bruno and Bess, access to the living quarters.

''The dogs then made their way to the bedroom in which baby Cadey-Lee was sleeping.

''By the time (they)... realised what had happened, the dogs had attacked.'' The child's parents said the public reaction to the tragedy was a comfort to them at such a terrible time.

''People have been incredible. Our family and friends, and the many people who have left flowers and toys outside The Rocket -- it has been overwhelming.'' Neighbours described the two dogs, which have since been destroyed, as guard dogs and not pets.

REUTERS PB RN1208