Lawyers face dog death charges

A husband-and-wife lawyer team in the United States have been charged over the death of a neighbour who was attacked by two dogs they were looking after.

A judge in San Francisco said Robert Noel was charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to control what was described as a mischievous animal.

His wife, Majorie Knoller, was charged with one count of second-degree murder.

Mrs Knoller is said to have lost control of two large dogs -- a cross-breed English mastiff and a Canary Island -- which attacked a neighbour, Diane Whipple. The largest dog was put to death immediately and the second dog is being held as potential evidence. The dogs were reported to have been bred for illegal fights in prison, and it's emerged the dogs were owned by prisoners who were represented by the couple.

The lawyers contend that the victim was partly responsible for the dog attack because of the scent she was wearing.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service