In a tragic incident, a senior citizen with limited mobility was entrusted with caring for a group of 10 XL bully dogs weighing up to 190kg collectively, leading to her demise, as revealed in court proceedings.

Ashley Warren is currently standing trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on charges related to the ownership and supervision of two XL bully dogs, Beauty and Bear, which fatally attacked Esther Martin, 68, in what was described as an inevitable calamity.

On February 3, 2024, Warren, aged 41, left Ms. Martin, who suffered from mobility issues due to a hip replacement, arthritis, and a limp, in the care of the two adult dogs and eight puppies of the same breed at his residence on Hillman Avenue in Jaywick, Essex. This arrangement was made so Warren could travel to London to film a music video.

Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC highlighted that Ms. Martin’s physical limitations made it unreasonable to expect her to manage the dogs, given their unpredictable and formidable nature, with a combined weight of 180kg to 190kg. He emphasized that the dogs, as described by Warren, were energetic and not statuesque.

The two adult dogs weighed 39kg and 47kg each, while the eight puppies ranged between 10kg to 12kg, as disclosed in court.

Considering Warren’s long-standing acquaintance with Ms. Martin and her known mobility challenges, Paxton argued that Warren had no justification to believe she could control the dogs effectively.

Despite claims of the dogs’ good behavior by the defense, it was noted that the animals had not been walked for four weeks leading up to the fatal attack on Ms. Martin, who sustained numerous dog-related injuries prior to her passing.

The trial, where Warren has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the incident, including owning a dog that caused fatal injuries, continues as further details unfold.