Overview
- After a three-day trial in Soissons, the court placed its decision under advisement until June 11.
- The prosecution said Curtis, identified by DNA analyses as the sole biting dog, was imported without declaration and trained for illegal bite work.
- Defense counsel sought Ellul’s acquittal, arguing unresolved investigative gaps as Ellul’s own statements about his dog’s culpability shifted during the hearings.
- A public petition opposing euthanasia surpassed 14,000 signatures, reflecting growing pressure to spare the dog’s life.
- Animal-welfare groups AVA and Les amis de Sam offered permanent sanctuary placements for Curtis, who has been confined in kennels for more than six years.