French man charged with manslaughter after dog kills partner

The French partner of a pregnant woman who was fatally bitten while walking her partner’s dog has been charged with manslaughter for “involuntarily causing her death”.

Élisa Pilarski, who was aged 29 and six months pregnant, was found dead in a forest in the Aisne department in November 2019, after going to walk her partner’s American Staffordshire Terrier, Curtis.

Her death was found to be a result of a haemorrhage caused by dog bites inflicted by the terrier. Ms Pilarski had called Mr Ellul while out on the walk, to report aggressive dogs nearby, the court heard.

Read more: Pregnant woman killed by dog she was walking, say experts

Her partner, Christophe Ellul, was yesterday charged with manslaughter, for having, “by carelessness, inattention, negligence or breach of a duty of care or safety (...) unintentionally caused the death" of his partner.

This was a "result of aggression committed by several dogs of which he was the owner or guardian", read a statement from public prosecutor Julien Morino-Ros, from the court in Soissons, Aisne.

Mr Ellul will not go to prison but instead will remain under legal supervision. He is also banned from making any contact with any members of Ms Pilarski’s family, who brought the case to court.

The magistrate said: “The investigation will now continue. At the end of the judicial inquiry, it will be decided what action should be taken to follow up this case and whether or not to refer it to the criminal court for judgement.”

Mr Ellul has always maintained the innocence of his dog in the case.

The terrier is said to have come from a farm in the Netherlands, and was allegedly illegally imported into France.

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