A trial has begun at the Edmonton Court of King’s Bench for a pet owner charged in connection with a dog attack that killed an 11-year-old boy on April 1, 2024.
Crystal Jean MacDonald, 46, is charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death.
The victim, Kache Grist from British Columbia, was visiting his father, who resided in MacDonald’s home in south Edmonton.
An autopsy found the boy died from a dog bite injury to the neck.
Monday’s testimony, however, focused on the dogs’ behaviour in the months leading up to Grist’s death.
MacDonald owned twin Cane Corsos weighing around 110 and 120 pounds respectively. The dogs have since been euthanized.
Two Crown witnesses testified on the first day of trial Monday, including a tenant who lived in the basement suite before the boy’s death.
Jesse Woodruff told court his initial interactions with the dogs were friendly when he moved in in October 2023, but he later became uncomfortable, saying the dogs grew more aggressive and disobedient.
He said MacDonald encouraged the dogs to jump up and give hugs at first, though that behaviour was later discouraged.
Woodruff said the dogs mainly stayed on the main floor and did not enter the basement suite where he lived.
He testified there was initially one metal kennel occasionally used for the dogs, but over time they were left in the kennel more frequently. He said, however, only one dog could fit in the kennel at a time.
Woodruff said verbal commands would sometimes work, but not always. He testified MacDonald would at times become physical with the dogs, grabbing their collars and slapping their backsides if they did not listen.
He then described an incident in December 2023 during a night of drinking with MacDonald and friends upstairs.
Woodruff said he had a few drinks, relaxed his guard and began playing with the dogs on the floor.
He testified that after he lay down to play with them, the situation escalated quickly and the dogs began attacking him.
Woodruff said he rolled onto his stomach to protect his head while yelling for help. MacDonald and another friend eventually pulled the dogs off him.
He testified the dogs bit and scratched him, and he later noticed muscle protruding from his leg. He was taken to hospital, where he received six stitches and antibiotics.
The injuries caused Woodruff to miss work and made walking difficult, court heard.
He said he later returned to hospital for treatment for an infection. MacDonald was also injured in the attack and sought treatment days later.
Woodruff also described an incident on Feb. 29, 2024, when he was walking a friend out at the door on the main landing.
As he headed back downstairs, he said he saw the dogs lying in the living room about 10 feet away.
Woodruff testified he opened the basement door and the dogs bombarded him through his legs and down the stairs.
He yelled for help as his cat ran upstairs to the top landing.
He said one of the dogs got a hold of the cat in his jaw, killing it.
Woodruff testified he took the cat to a veterinary hospital but was told the animal had already died.
He said he later spoke with MacDonald, who apologized but did not want police involved.
Woodruff told court the death of his cat left him suicidal and led to him spending a night in a psychiatric ward at one point.
He also testified that MacDonald told him about another incident in which the dogs attacked a woman who was not supposed to be at the home.
Woodruff added he was also told the dogs had killed another dog. That dog’s owner is expected to testify later in the trial.
During cross-examination, defence counsel pointed to inconsistencies in Woodruff’s previous statements, including initial medical reports that described the attack on him as accidental.
Woodruff said that reflected how he viewed the incident at the time, but his opinion has since changed.
He added that because he was intoxicated the night of the attack, he did not want to report it. He also said he would not have been playing with the dogs if he wasn’t intoxicated.
Also during cross-examination, it was revealed that MacDonald had warned Woodruff prior to him moving in to make sure his cat stayed downstairs.
Woodruff moved out in the days after his cat died. He said he provided a statement to police about what had happened, and later returned to the house to collect some of his belongings. He said police and animal control had arranged to be there for when he returned to the house. He testified that at that time he noticed a second kennel in the home.
Court also heard testimony from a police constable who was there for when Woodruff moved out, and who was also involved in the investigation into the attack on Woodruff’s cat.
That officer testified that when he arrived at the home, he could hear MacDonald on the phone seeking legal advice about whether she should speak with police.
According to both Woodruff and the constable, MacDonald questioned why police needed to be involved while Woodruff was retrieving his belongings.
The constable testified MacDonald initially appeared willing to engage in some dialogue before eventually closing the door in his face.
He also described a gate at the home with damaged and tarnished bars, including one that appeared bent.
Court heard Grist’s father also came out of the home during the interaction and MacDonald yelled at him not to speak.
The judge-alone trial is expected to conclude next week.
