By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 73-YEAR-OLD woman accused of allowing a dog to maul a three-year-old girl was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after she was unable to give her name when asked in court.

Rachel Morley, 73, and her son Clifton “Cliffy” Morley, 51, are accused of allowing their dangerous Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd to escape from their Ida Street property and attack the child on September 9.

The girl suffered head injuries that required surgery.

Clifton Morley pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Abigail Farrington to being a person who keeps a dangerous dog which injured a person while dangerously out of control in a public place and failing to keep a dangerous dog under control.

However, Ms Morley was not required to enter a plea after she failed to give her name when the magistrate asked her to identify herself.

Her son offered to give her name on her behalf, but Magistrate Farrington refused.

The magistrate ordered Ms Morley to undergo a psychological evaluation at a public hospital while on release and directed her family to ensure she attends. She could be remanded if she does not complete the evaluation.

Ms Morley’s nephew, Charlton Morley, previously said the family had told police that she has early-stage dementia and Alzheimer’s and blamed her alleged condition for her leaving the property’s gate open, allowing the dog to escape.

He also questioned why police took his aunt to the Wulff Road Police Station for questioning without a relative or attorney present, claiming officers knew she was not mentally coherent.

Mr Morley said his aunt does not understand the significance of what happened.

The family does not dispute that the dog escaped from the Ida Street property and attacked the child.

Mr Morley said the property has an enclosed gate, a six-foot fence topped with barbed wire and a lock on the gate. He argued that relatives could not realistically supervise his aunt at all times.

Charlton Morley was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to sign in at the Nassau Street Police Station by 7pm on the last Sunday of every month.

Mr Morley is expected to return to court today to be arraigned on further charges after leaving court early because of medical issues.

The defendants are due to stand trial on January 26, 2027.

Reserve Inspector Deveaux prosecuted the case.