The Soissons criminal court found Christophe Ellul guilty of manslaughter in the death of Elisa Pilarski, who was killed by dog bites in 2019 in the Retz forest. His dog Curtis, identified as the perpetrator of the fatal injuries, will have to be euthanized.
Four years suspended sentence
Nearly seven years after Elisa Pilarski's death, the Soissons criminal court has delivered its verdict. Christophe Ellul, the young woman's partner at the time of the events and owner of the dog Curtis, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, suspended, for manslaughter. The court also ordered the euthanasia of Curtis, identified by the investigation as the dog responsible for the fatal bites. The judgment follows a trial held from March 3 to 5. At the end of the hearings, the prosecution had requested the same sentence: four years' imprisonment, suspended, for Christophe Ellul and the euthanasia of his dog.
Elisa Pilarski found dead in the forest
On November 16, 2019, Elisa Pilarski, 29, six months pregnant, was found dead in the Retz forest in the Aisne department. She had gone there to walk Curtis, her partner's dog. Her body showed numerous dog bites, including several serious wounds that caused fatal bleeding. The case immediately sparked widespread outrage. On the day of the tragedy, a hunt was taking place in the area. Christophe Ellul initially blamed the hunting dogs, asserting that Curtis was not responsible for the attack. This hypothesis was later dismissed by the investigation.
Curtis was identified by the experts.
Genetic and veterinary examinations gradually led the investigation to Curtis. DNA analysis of Elisa Pilarski's injuries implicated Christophe Ellul's dog. Hunting dogs present in the area were ruled out by the investigation. Experts concluded that the bites consistent with the fatal injuries were from Curtis's jaw. The dog was presented as the sole perpetrator of the bites that caused the young woman's death.
A dog deemed dangerous
Curtis, described as an American Pit Bull Terrier, belonged to Christophe Ellul. The investigation concluded that the animal had been illegally imported into France. His bite training also played a central role in the case. Experts determined that this training contributed to making the animal dangerous, particularly due to his lack of bite inhibition towards humans. Since the tragedy, Curtis had been kept in a kennel. The animal had been kept alive throughout the proceedings, notably because he constituted a key piece of evidence in the legal case. The court's decision ends this status: his euthanasia has been ordered.
Christophe Ellul's version rejected
Christophe Ellul long contested Curtis's responsibility. He maintained that the dog was wearing a muzzle and that other dogs could have attacked Elisa Pilarski. However, the investigation uncovered evidence contradicting this version, notably photos found on the victim's phone showing Curtis unmuzzled during the walk. At trial, the defendant maintained reservations about the investigation's conclusions. But the technical evidence presented in court, the DNA analyses, bite comparisons, and veterinary reports were accepted by the court. Christophe Ellul was therefore found criminally responsible for Elisa Pilarski's death due to recklessness or negligence related to the care of his dog.
