Men argued about ‘right of way’ before fatal Wakefield dog attack, court told

A man has appeared in court accused of manslaughter after his German Shepherd fatally bit a man on a footpath in Wakefield following an argument about “right of way”.

Emergency services were called to reports of an altercation on the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area on Saturday afternoon.

James Judge, 55, was bitten by a dog and taken to hospital in a critical condition but died shortly after 7pm. His family is being supported by specially trained officers.

Lee Ellis, 55, has been charged with manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death.

He appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Rob Fones, representing Ellis, said there was “a verbal altercation in regards to right of way”.

Georgina Fishwick, prosecuting, told the court an initial post-mortem had been unable to determine the exact number of dog bites to Mr Judge, but a bite to the back of his right knee had significantly contributed to his death.

Ellis was not asked to enter a plea to the charges, but Mr Fones said he “will be taking the matter to trial”.

The court heard he was a self-employed farrier who had lived in the area for 30 years.

District Judge Mark Daley bailed Ellis until his next appearance at Leeds Crown Court on September 16, on the condition he sleeps every night at his home address.

Ellis, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, wiped his eyes and nose with a tissue during the hearing.

A German Shepherd dog seized as part of this investigation continues to be held in police kennels, West Yorkshire Police said.

Over the weekend, the walking path was sealed off by police tape with police cars remaining at the remote former railway track.