Female student, 20, mauled to death by 12 sheepdogs ‘while their owner was in nearby bar’

A STUDENT was mauled to death by a pack of up to 12 stray dogs while their owner was in a nearby bar, prosecutors say.

Simona Cavallaro, 20, died after she was attacked by the dogs in the southern Italian town of Satriano.

The animals were said to be guarding a flock of unattended sheep in the nearby pine forest of Montefiorino.

At the same time, Cavallaro, had been enjoying a picnic in the woods with her boyfriend.

The couple were set upon by the pack as they were passed through the densely wooded area.

Cavallaro's boyfriend got away, but she was mauled and was left with bite marks across every part of her body.

The boyfriend, who managed to hide from the pack of dogs in an abandoned shack, alerted the local authorities with a phone call.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported the Simona to a nearby hospital.

However, Simona died shortly after arriving for emergency treatment.   

Eight months after the attack, local shepherd, Pietro Rossomanno, was arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter after he allegedly abandoned his flock.

According to Corriere De La Calabria, the 45-year-old was in a nearby bar when the fatal attack took place.

Prosecutors say Rossomanno allowed his dogs to watch over his sheep and could have prevented them when they became aggressive towards the young Italian.

The prosecution alleges that his conduct was negligent - showing a complete lack of care for the basic rules set up to regulate livestock.

Rossomanno remains under house arrest as the investigation continues.