Caerphilly dog attack: Inquest into Jack Lis death opens

A 10-year-old boy who was killed by a dog died as a result of "severe injuries to the head and neck" an inquest has heard.

Jack William Lis died after being attacked at a house in Caerphilly on Monday afternoon.

At the opening of the inquest at Newport Coroner's Court, the provisional cause of death was given as "severe injuries to the head and neck".

A 28-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the dog attack.

The court heard Jack was outside his house "playing with a friend", and then went to his friend's home.

Senior coroner for Gwent, Caroline Saunders, said upon entering the home "Jack was attacked by a dog".

The court heard paramedics were called but Jack's injuries were "unsurvivable" and he was pronounced dead at 16:14 GMT on Monday.

Jack was identified by photos provided to the mortuary manager, the hearing was told.

The coroner said the circumstances surrounding Jack's death were "violent and unnatural" and so formally opened an inquest into his death.

She then adjourned the inquest for "further inquiries" to be made and it will be resumed at a later date.

BBC Wales was told the dog, known as Beast, had been kept at a home in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, until two days prior to the attack.

It is thought to have previously belonged to Lee Jenkins, 34, who voluntarily attended an interview with police on Wednesday.

Mr Jenkins has denied ownership of Beast.

He said: "I am not the owner of that dog. I told the police everything I know. They know I have nothing to do with it.

"It's not my dog and it's since been re-homed from me."

A neighbour of Mr Jenkins has told BBC Wales that Beast was used as a breeding stud. He is known to have fathered at least 10 puppies by Mr Jenkins' other dog, Beauty.

On 29 October, Mr Jenkins posted an advert to rehome Beast on a Facebook page, describing him as "grate (sic) with people", but adding that he did "not like other dogs at all".