A 55-year-old man died from complications of a dog bite sustained during a dispute over a right of way, an inquest opening has revealed. James Judge was bitten on the back of his right knee by an Alsatian-Australian Huntaway cross dog owned by local landowner Lee Ellis on a footpath in Wakefield in August.
Ellis, 55, has been charged with manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death. The confrontation reportedly began over a disagreement about the right of way. Judge is alleged to have filmed Ellis on his phone and threatened to report him to the police. During the argument, Judge is said to have become agitated and pushed Ellis in the face. At some point, the dog bit Judge.
Following the incident, both men separately called emergency services. Ellis, realizing Judge had been bitten, is believed to have called for an ambulance and offered assistance, but was instructed by an operator to leave the scene. Two members of the public later found Judge bleeding and he was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, where he died shortly after 7 p.m. A post-mortem examination provisionally attributed his death to complications from the dog bite wound.
An inquest into Judge's death was opened and adjourned pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. Ellis is scheduled to appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 16. During his initial appearance at Bradford Magistrates' Court, his solicitor stated the incident originated from an argument about a right of way.
Neighbors reported that Ellis's property, which he purchased in 2002 and renovated, has signs warning of guard dogs, and that the animals frequently barked loudly. One dog walker described the area as typically quiet and the footpath as a well-trodden route for many walkers.
