Police have sent papers to prosecutors on a 60-year-old man and his 58-year-old wife, charging them with involuntary manslaughter over the death of their 10-month-old granddaughter who was bitten by their pet dog at their house in Hachioji, Tokyo, two years ago.

The child, Midori Yasuda, was crawling on the floor when her grandparents' four-year-old golden retriever suddenly approached her and bit her on the head at around 4:30 p.m. on March 9, 2017, Fuji TV reported.

The baby was taken to hospital, but died about two and a half hours later.

Midori, who had just learned to crawl, often stayed at her grandparents’ house. On the day of her death, her mother had dropped her off at a daycare center but she was feeling unwell, so her grandparents brought her to their home where her mother was to pick her up after work.

The grandparents told police that their pet dog was usually very quiet and was not a threat to anyone.

© Japan Today