Farrier denies responsibility for Wakefield dog-attack death
A farrier dog walker has denied being responsible for the death of a man on a Wakefield country path after being bitten by the animal.
Lee Ellis appeared at Leeds Crown Court this morning (Wednesday, September 16), where he formally entered a not-guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, resulting in death.
James Judge, 55, was attacked by Ellis’ German Shepherd dog and died later in hospital.
It was previously reported there had been an altercation between the two men over the right of way.
Ellis, also 55, of Calder Grove, Wakefield, will now stand trial on May 17 next year. It is expected to last at least five days.
He was granted bail.
Mr Judge was attacked on the old train-line footpath, off Blacker Lane in Wakefield, on the afternoon of Saturday, August 15.
A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as complications of a right leg wound caused by a dog bite, Wakefield Coroner's Court heard.
He was unmarried and was born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was also living at the time of his death.
The inquest will resume pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.