XL Bullies mauled rapper's mum-in-law to death

XL Bully dogs owned by an aspiring rapper mauled his mother-in-law to death while he filmed a music video, a court heard.

Esther Martin, 68, suffered "dozens and dozens" of bites at Ashley Warren's home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

Leaving the "doting and loving grandmother" alone with 10 XL Bullies, banned in England just two days before the attack, was "a recipe for disaster", prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said.

Warren, 41, denies owning or being in charge of the two dogs responsible for killing Martin.

Opening the trial, Paxton said Warren had not tried to get an exemption certificate for his dogs – Bear, Beauty and their eight puppies – despite being aware they were banned.

Martin had travelled from Woodford Green in east London to watch the dogs and a child so Warren could film a music video in London, but she was attacked "within a few hours" of arriving, Paxton said.

"Esther suffered dozens and dozens of dog bite marks and wounds, which led to a catastrophic bleed and her death," he told jurors.

"Such was the ferocity of the dogs, that police officers and emergency services were unable to enter the home until the police deployed and used their Tasers."

A doctor was brought to Warren's house by helicopter after the attack, but Martin was pronounced dead after being pulled from the property, Paxton added.

Footage from nearby CCTV captured screams coming from the house in Hillman Avenue and dogs barking "in a frenzied state".

As it was played to the jury, Warren wept in the dock and did not watch.

Paxton said leaving Martin alone with the "ferocious" animals was "a tragedy waiting to happen... given the imbalance that arose between 68-year-old Esther, short in stature, and the towering power of these banned XL Bully dogs".

However, Paxton said it suited Warren who "could pursue his own agenda" by going to London.

In another video played to the court, Warren told police his XL Bullies, one of which he bought on Gumtree, were "the friendliest dogs I know" and said poodles were "more aggressive".

But Paxton said their danger was "plain to all, hence the strict laws" that he alleged Warren "ignored".

He also said Martin had previously shared fears about the dogs being "aggressive" and urged Warren to sell them.

But during that confrontation, Warren allegedly said "he didn't care about what anyone said", the jury was told.

Warren had been in a relationship with Martin's daughter for 14 years before she died in 2021.

He became the first person to be charged with XL Bully-related offences when Martin was killed, just two days after the laws were imposed.

The defendant, who now lives in Surrey, was arrested at Clacton railway station after returning from London and found to be in possession of a knife.

The court heard he argued it was a prop in his music video, with Paxton describing him as "an aspiring rap artist".

Jurors were told Warren believed Beauty belonged to his new partner and that he had not been in control of Bear on the day of the attacks.

The trial continues.

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