A court trial revealed that a senior citizen with mobility limitations was entrusted with the care of 10 XL bully dogs weighing up to a total of 190kg before a fatal incident occurred. Ashley Warren is currently facing charges at Chelmsford Crown Court for allegedly owning or supervising two XL bully dogs involved in the death of 68-year-old Esther Martin. The tragic event unfolded when Warren asked Ms. Martin, who had mobility issues due to a hip replacement and arthritis, to look after his two dogs, Beauty and Bear, along with eight puppies of the same breed while he went to London for a music video shoot.
Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC described the situation as a disaster waiting to happen, emphasizing that Ms. Martin, given her physical limitations, was not capable of managing the dogs, which collectively weighed between 180kg to 190kg. The dogs were characterized as unpredictable and muscular, posing a significant risk. Warren, who had a long-standing relationship with Ms. Martin, should have known about her mobility challenges and could not reasonably expect her to control the powerful dogs.
Ms. Martin suffered at least 60 dog-related injuries before succumbing to the attack, as revealed in court. The dogs had not been taken for a walk for four weeks leading up to the incident. Defense counsel Allan Compton KC argued that there was no prior evidence of the dogs being aggressive towards humans, except for an isolated incident involving a neighbor. He emphasized the importance of observing the consistent behavior of dogs over time rather than focusing on isolated events.
The tragedy occurred shortly after the government criminalized the ownership of XL bully dogs in England and Wales without a proper certificate. Warren, now residing in Addlestone, Surrey, has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the incident. The trial is ongoing, with Warren appearing in court wearing a pink shirt.
