Man denies manslaughter after fatal dog bite during argument on footpath

The male owner of a dog which fatally bit another man following an argument about “right of way” has denied manslaughter.

Emergency services were called following the altercation on the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield on August 15.

James Judge, 55, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary in a critical condition but died soon after.

On Wednesday, Lee Ellis, 55, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

Judge Tom Bayliss KC bailed Ellis, of Calder Grove, Wakefield, until his trial, which is due to start on May 17 at Leeds Crown Court.

A further pre-trial hearing was scheduled for April 15.

At an earlier hearing, solicitor Rob Fones, representing Ellis, said there had been “a verbal altercation in regards to right of way”.

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

An inquest into Mr Judge’s death was opened and adjourned last week.

Acting senior coroner Oliver Longstaff said Mr Judge died in Leeds General Infirmary, where he was taken after the incident, and was identified by his mother.

A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as complications of a right leg wound caused by a dog bite.

The inquest heard Mr Judge was unmarried. He was born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was also living at the time of his death.

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