By LAURA WAKELY
THE OWNERS of the pitbull that mauled four-year-old Ayen Chol to death have offered her family financial compensation.
Lazor Josevski will plead guilty to one count of owning a dog that attacked and killed a person, two counts of owning a dog that attacked and caused serious injury and owning an unregistered dog.
Representing Mr Josevski in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court last week, lawyer Rob Stary said the 57-year-old was looking after the pitbull cross for his son, who was overseas, but accepted he was responsible for the dog at the time of the attack.
He said Mr Josevski had been horrified by the “traumatic” attack and had sincerely apologised to the Chol family and offered them a payment of compensation.
Police prosecutor Danielle Todisco told the court Mr Josevski thought he had secured the dog in his backyard and did not know how it escaped.
The dog chased people inside a house, where it attacked a woman and child before turning on Ayen as she clung to her mother’s leg.
The dog pinned her to the ground and violently shook her around, causing fatal injuries to her face, head and neck.
“The victim was terrified,” Snr Const Todisco said.
The Chol family supported each other in court, but did not want to comment on the case.
But Maurice Blackburn spokesperson Mariese Bytschkow, who is representing the family, said they were frustrated by the slow process but happy that Mr Josevski had pleaded guilty.
The case will resume on 31 May.
A coronial inquest will also take place in August.
