Fatal Attack by XL Bully Dogs at Essex Home

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

Esther Martin, 68, suffered "dozens and dozens" of bite wounds at Ashley Warren's residence in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024, Chelmsford Crown Court was informed.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC described leaving the "doting and loving grandmother" alone with 10 XL Bullies, which had been banned in England just two days prior to the incident, as "a recipe for disaster."

Warren, 41, denies owning or being responsible for the two dogs that caused Martin's death.

Prosecution Details and Trial Opening

During the trial opening, Paxton stated that Warren had not sought an exemption certificate for his dogs—Bear, Beauty, and their eight puppies—despite being aware of the ban.

Martin had traveled from Woodford Green in east London to supervise the dogs and a child so Warren could film a music video in London, but was attacked "within a few hours" of her arrival, the prosecutor said.

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

Paxton told jurors.

He added that the dogs were so ferocious that police officers and emergency services could not enter the home until the police deployed Tasers.

A doctor was airlifted to Warren's home after the attack, but Martin was pronounced dead after being removed from the property, Paxton said.

Evidence and Courtroom Reactions

CCTV footage from a nearby location captured screams from the house on Hillman Avenue and dogs barking in a frenzied state.

As the footage was shown to the jury, Warren wept in the dock and did not watch.

Paxton described leaving Martin alone with the "ferocious" dogs as "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."

He suggested the situation suited Warren, who "could pursue his own agenda" by going to London.

Defendant's Statements and Legal Context

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

Paxton countered that their danger was "plain to all, hence the strict laws" which Warren allegedly ignored.

The prosecutor also stated that Martin had previously expressed concerns about the dogs being "aggressive" and urged Warren to sell them.

"He didn't care about what anyone said,"

Paxton said Warren responded during that confrontation.

Background and Charges

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

He became the first individual charged with XL Bully-related offences following Martin's death, just two days after the laws banning the breed were introduced.

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

The court heard Warren claimed the knife was a prop for his music video, with Paxton describing him as "an aspiring rap artist."

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

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