Bull terrier mauls owner to death in front of BBC camera crew
A DRUG addict taking part in a BBC documentary was mauled to death by his dog in front of the terrified film crew.
Mario Perivoitos, 41, screamed ‘get him off me’ before his Staffordshire bull terrier called Major savaged his neck, neighbours said yesterday.
The filmmakers are thought to have barricaded themselves into another room of the flat and called an ambulance.
Police are believed to have smashed in the front door before seizing the dog, but medics were unable to save his owner.
The property, in Wood Green, North London, was notorious in the area for drug-fuelled parties.
Neighbours said Mr Perivoitos had lived in the block for decades, but had slipped into heroin abuse after his dementia-stricken mother moved into a care home. Friends said he was ‘very intelligent’ – but admitted the flat had become ‘dangerous’.
Geoff Morgan, 52, who was home at the time of the attack, heard a commotion coming from a flat below him. He said: ‘I heard shouting – “Get him off me!” He was bleeding from his neck. There was a lot of blood.’
One resident, who did not want to be named, added: ‘I was a bit shocked when they said it was the dog. The barking was going on for a good time and the police were banging down the door.’
His friend Angela Constantinou, 35, said: ‘This guy had two masters degrees. He was very intelligent, kind. I found it strange how he got addicted to drugs, because his parents were great.
‘His dad died a couple of years ago and his mum went into a care home. That flat was dangerous for everyone in the last couple of years, with the coming and goings.’
In February, Mr Perivoitos was handed a three-month closure order at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court, banning him from bringing anyone back to his flat.
The BBC has refused to reveal the subject of the documentary. One neighbour said she saw a film crew interviewing Mr Perivoitos about a week before the incident.
He was rushed to hospital on March 20 after police were alerted to the attack at around 10.25pm. He was pronounced dead several hours later.
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as ‘hypovolemic shock and damage to the airway consistent with a dog bite’, police said. Hypovolemic shock occurs when the body loses a fifth of its blood. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Staffordshire bull terriers are not a prohibited breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act, but are renowned for the power of their bite. The dog remains in secure kennels.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘A BBC crew was present, but not filming, at the time of the incident and called an ambulance. Given the ongoing inquiries, it would not be appropriate to comment further.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘[The crew] are assisting as officers prepare a report for the coroner.’ The Met also confirmed that two filmmakers were questioned by police under caution. It is thought they were quizzed about a potential breach of the closure order. No further action will be taken against them.