WARNING: This story contains graphic and disturbing content.
At the trial for a woman charged in connection with a 2024 dog attack in Edmonton that left a boy dead, court heard testimony Tuesday about a second fatal pet attack involving the same dogs.
The owner of the twin Cane Corsos, Crystal Jean MacDonald, 46, is charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death after an autopsy found 11-year-old Kache Grist died from a dog bite injury to the neck.
Court heard Tuesday that on one mid-July day in 2023, Dale Shawn Hesse was at his Sherwood Park acreage with his approximately 10-pound Pomeranian, a dog he had owned for about a year and a half.
Hesse testified that his now ex-wife was friends with MacDonald. He said he knew MacDonald but described her as an acquaintance.
On the day in question, MacDonald arrived at Hesse’s acreage to park her trailer. Hesse said he was home alone when he received a phone call informing him MacDonald was unexpectedly on her way.
During cross-examination, defence attorney Evan Vaughan McIntyre confirmed with Hesse that he had been warned to keep his dog away from MacDonald’s dogs.
After the call, Hesse said he placed his dog in a pen. Court heard that once MacDonald arrived, one of her dogs was tied to her trailer and the other was tied to an enclosure.
Hesse testified the dogs would not have been able to become tangled. He said he only knew of prior interactions between his dog and MacDonald’s dogs through what his ex-wife had told him and had never personally witnessed them.
Hesse said he then placed his dog in the enclosure and recalled telling the animal, “Don’t do it,” before the Pomeranian bolted toward the Cane Corsos.
Hesse said he believed the larger of MacDonald’s two dogs, weighing around 120 pounds, grabbed his dog first.
He described the attack “like a tug-of-war,” with one of MacDonald’s dogs grabbing one side of the Pomeranian and the other grabbing the opposite side.
Hesse testified he tried to stop the attack by punching the dogs in the head as hard as he could, but it had no effect.
He said MacDonald eventually came over and told him she put her finger in one of the dog’s rectums, describing it as her “trick.” Hesse testified that the method worked.
However, during cross-examination, Hesse acknowledged he may not have actually witnessed MacDonald use the technique and instead may have only been told about it afterward.
The two then drove the injured Pomeranian to a veterinarian, with Hesse driving and MacDonald holding the dog.
Hesse said veterinary staff attempted to save his dog’s life.
At that point in his testimony, Hesse began crying on the stand.
He testified that his dog did not survive. Hesse said MacDonald repeatedly apologized but also said she could not afford the veterinary costs.
Hesse added the Cane Corsos remained tethered throughout the attack. He described his dog as a “barkaholic” that barked excitedly and happily, which he said the dog was doing on the day of the attack.
During further cross-examination, McIntyre questioned Hesse about statements made to the veterinarian, presenting him with a patient history report.
Hesse said he had never previously seen the report. McIntyre pointed to a line stating Hesse’s dog had a history of escaping from its pen.
Hesse testified that because the dog had been registered under MacDonald’s name during intake, he believed those comments may have come from her.
McIntyre then directed Hesse to the name listed at the top of the report, which was Hesse’s, though it was misspelled.
Hesse replied it was possible he had made the statement.
Neighbour testimony
The second witness to testify on Tuesday was Grant Robert MacDonald, a neighbour whose backyard connected with Crystal MacDonald’s property.
Grant MacDonald, who is not related to the accused, testified the dogs made it difficult to enjoy the backyard because of constant barking and the animals pushing against the fence.
He said he had no relationship with Crystal MacDonald, did not know her name and had only spoken with her a couple of times.
Grant MacDonald also had difficulty identifying her in court, saying he was not used to seeing her wearing glasses or dressed as she was in court.
He testified there was one confrontation between them in which he raised concerns about the dogs. While he could not remember the exact wording, he said there was swearing and that comments along the lines of “mind your own business” were made.
He testified he worried the dogs would come underneath the fence, leaving him feeling uncomfortable and insecure.
Grant MacDonald said he eventually installed security cameras both for safety and to document the situation if the dogs got through the fence.
After several months, he removed the cameras because, despite complaints to bylaw officers, he felt nothing was changing.
Friend recounts attack
The third witness to testify on Tuesday was Raymond Edward Grumbach, who testified about an attack involving one of his friends at MacDonald’s south Edmonton home.
Grumbach described the events that unfolded on Feb. 3, 2024, when he and two women went to MacDonald’s house before she was set to go to work.
Grumbach said he had no involvement in texting MacDonald about the visit and that communication was handled by one of the women. However, he said when they arrived, MacDonald was not home. They were able to enter because one of the women had the code to get in.
He testified the group had been socializing at his home before the two women said they wanted to stop by MacDonald’s place before work.
He said the dogs were excited in the home when they first arrived and one of the women he was with gave them dog treats.
Court was shown video footage of one of the women slipping on ice in the backyard near the dogs.
The courtroom then heard her yelling, “Oh my God!” and “They’re biting me!” He and the other woman got a hold of the dogs to get them off her.
Grumbach testified the woman who said the dogs bit her returned inside the house before later being taken to hospital for treatment.
He said she was crying and bleeding where the dogs bit her.
The judge-alone trial is expected to conclude early next week.
The trial is centred on Grist’s death on April 1, 2024. The boy, from British Columbia, was visiting his father, who resided in MacDonald’s home in south Edmonton.