Grandmother to Support Accused Dog Owner Despite Losing Grandson in Attack

The grandmother and guardian of four-year-old Timoti Tu'uaki Rolleston-Bryan, who died following a dog attack in Katikati on 28 March 2024, says she intends to stand up in court in support of the woman charged over his death. Amy Rolleston said she first learned of the charge when the accused woman phoned her on the morning of 9 March, roughly an hour before Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Flowerdew Brown called to inform her officially. Rolleston said the family had previously told police they did not want the dog's owner charged.

The 35-year-old woman has been charged with owning a dog that caused the death of a person and was called to appear in the New Plymouth District Court on 16 March. The charge was announced the day before what would have been Timoti's fifth birthday. Rolleston said the timing left her and her husband reeling, and that a planned birthday gathering for Timoti's cousins was cancelled because everyone was too upset. She said she believes she should have been notified of the charging decision at the same time as the accused.

Rolleston said she has asked for the court appearance to be moved to the Tauranga District Court so both families and their supporters could attend more easily. Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said charging decisions are made by weighing prosecutorial guidelines, sufficiency of evidence, public interest, and the privacy of all persons involved. Police declined to comment further as the matter is now before the courts.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).