Tragic Accident or Criminal Negligence?
A French prosecutor has requested a four-year suspended prison sentence for Christophe Ellul, the former partner of Elisa Pilarski, who was found dead with approximately 50 dog bites in an Aisne forest in November 2019. Prosecutor Laureydane Ortuno also called for the euthanasia of Curtis, the American pit bull terrier at the center of the case, during closing arguments at the Soissons Correctional Court on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
“What is this case? A tragedy, the death of a young pregnant woman. And it is an accident,” stated Ortuno during her two-hour requisition. “No one accuses Mr. Ellul of having caused Elisa Pilarski’s death, but of having contributed to it.” The court will deliver its verdict on June 11.
The Prosecution’s Case: A Dog “Transformed into a Monster”
The prosecutor argued that Curtis, illegally imported into France by Ellul, was solely responsible for the attack that occurred near a deer hunt. Ortuno cited genetic evidence placing the dog’s DNA “from the scalp to the tips of [Pilarski’s] hair” and analysis indicating the wounds matched Curtis’s jaw and teeth measurements.
“Poorly conducted bite training can transform an animal that asked for nothing into a monster,” Ortuno asserted, characterizing Ellul’s training methods as a “poorly conducted activity.” She contended that by acquiring a “purebred” pit bull for such training, Ellul had “invented a weapon” and created the conditions for tragedy, though she acknowledged he had not intended harm.
The Defense: No Forewarning and Alternative Theories
Ellul’s defense lawyer, Alexandre Novion, pleaded for acquittal, arguing his client had seen “no forewarning signs” that could have predicted a “verified risk or serious peril.” Novion suggested the attack could have been carried out by hunting hounds from the nearby deer hunt, stating that if Curtis were responsible, “we would not have found so many bite zones” as the dog was not conditioned for predation.
Ellul, who broke down in tears multiple times during the proceedings, addressed the court: “I loved Elisa more than anything, I miss her. If I had known she could be at risk, I would have taken the necessary measures.”
Mitigating Factors and Pending Judgment
The prosecutor noted several mitigating factors, including the age of the case, Ellul’s clean criminal record, his social integration, and the profound impact of discovering his partner’s body. These considerations led to the request for a suspended sentence rather than imprisonment, along with a five-year prohibition on possessing weapons.
Curtis currently resides in a kennel in Haute-Garonne. The court’s decision on both Ellul’s sentence and the dog’s fate will be announced this June, concluding a seven-year legal battle that began with the death of the 29-year-old pregnant woman in the Retz Forest.
