Man, 55, died from complications of a leg wound after 'being bitten by Alsatian-cross in row over right of way', inquest hears

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 07:03 EDT, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 07:07 EDT, 7 September 2026 A man died after being bitten by a dog during an argument about a right of way, an inquest opening has heard. James Judge, 55, was bitten on the back of his right knee by an Alsatian-Australian Huntaway cross dog belonging to local landowner Lee Ellis on a footpath. He died from complications of a wound on his leg after the incident in Wakefield in August. Ellis, 55, of Calder Grove, Wakefield, has been charged with manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. The two men were said to have been arguing over a right of way. Mr Judge is thought to have filmed Ellis on his phone and threatened to report him to police. Mr Judge is said to have become agitated during the row and allegedly pushed Ellis in the face. The dog at some point bit Mr Judge and Ellis then attempted to get the animal away from the scene of the confrontation, it has been alleged. Following the encounter, both men are said to have separately called 999. Ellis, realising Mr Judge had been bitten, is believed to have called for an ambulance and offered to help him - but was told by an emergency operator to leave the scene. Soon afterwards two members of the public found Mr Judge, who was bleeding. He was taken to hospital but died shortly after 7pm. Police attended the scene of the dog attack in Wakefield, West Yorkshire Lee Ellis, 55, leaves Bradford Magistrates' Court in West Yorkshire last month after being bailed Ellis has been charged with manslaughter and appeared in court last monthOn Monday, an inquest into Mr Judge's death was opened and adjourned.Acting senior coroner Oliver Longstaff said Mr Judge died in Leeds General Infirmary, where he was taken after the incident, and was identified by his mother. A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as complications of a right leg wound caused by a dog bite. The inquest heard Mr Judge was unmarried and was born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was also living at the time of his death.Mr Longstaff said the inquest would be adjourned, pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.Ellis is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 16. During his first appearance at Bradford Magistrates' Court, his solicitor said the incident started over an argument about 'right of way'. Court, his solicitor said the incident started over an argument about 'right of way'. Ellis bought his agricultural property for £5,000 in 2002 and renovated it with his ex-wife. The former couple renovated the house themselves, building in stables. The area near the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of WakefieldHe is a keen farrier and frequently posts videos showing him taking care of horse hooves. The pair were often seen riding their horses in the area by neighbours.Ellis has two children with his ex-wife but the couple separated earlier this year. A number of signs warning of guard dogs decorate the outside of Ellis's house.One neighbour told the Daily Mail his son was 'scared to walk past the house' because the dogs would 'always bark so loudly'. Another said: 'Whenever you walked past you would always hear the dogs barking loudly.'One dog walker said: 'We don't normally get any trouble here. It's very quiet. The path where it happened is a well-trodden route, there's a lot of dog walkers. I just feel so sorry for the man who died.'