A man has denied manslaughter after his German Shepherd allegedly attacked and killed a fellow walker following a dispute over right of way on a footpath in Wakefield. Lee Ellis, 55, pleaded not guilty at a hearing to manslaughter and to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, following the death of James Judge, 55, on 15 August. The case has drawn attention as a stark example of how a seemingly minor dispute between walkers escalated fatally, and it will now proceed to a full crown court trial.

Judge Tom Bayliss KC granted Ellis bail ahead of a trial set for 17 May 2027 at Leeds Crown Court, with a further pre-trial hearing scheduled for 15 April. The incident occurred on a disused railway line footpath off Blacker Lane, Calder Grove, after what a solicitor described as "a verbal altercation" over right of way; Mr Judge suffered a bite to the back of his right knee, later found to be a direct contributor to his death, and died in Leeds General Infirmary that evening. Ellis, a self-employed farrier who has lived locally for 30 years, had his dog seized by West Yorkshire Police, while an inquest into Mr Judge's death has been opened and adjourned.