WARNING: This story contains graphic and disturbing details.
The father of an 11-year-old boy who died following a dog attack two years ago testified Thursday at the Edmonton Court of King’s Bench for the trial of the owner charged in connection with the death.
Crystal Jean MacDonald, 46, owned the twin Cane Corsos involved in the attack and is charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death.
Kache Grist of Osoyoos, B.C., was visiting his father, who lived in MacDonald’s south Edmonton home, when he was killed on April 1, 2024.
Court heard Wesley Grist, 43, had been living in the home and would do work around the house and on MacDonald’s vehicle as well as occasionally contributing money in exchange for a place to stay.
He testified that his son was visiting during spring break and had briefly left the home that day to buy snacks at a nearby Circle K. MacDonald had left the house to run errands with a friend.
The friend was expected to return afterward to pick up Wesley and drive him to look at a plumbing repair job. Court heard MacDonald’s dogs were in the living room and the back patio door was open.
Upon returning home, Wesley said he was working in the garage while the dogs remained inside. Kache handed his father a drink he had bought for him before going back inside to play video games.
Wesley testified that Kache would often play video games on the living room couch while the dogs lay close to him. He also spent time in his father’s bedroom and in another room in the home where a 10-year-old child would sometimes stay.
Wesley told court that MacDonald had previously warned him to keep Kache away from the dogs and not to leave him alone with them.
Wesley said the dogs were not aggressive in nature, but would become excited and jump on people.
Video footage played in court, captured by a neighbour’s backyard camera on the day of the attack, showed only part of MacDonald’s yard, but Kache could be heard letting one of the dogs into MacDonald’s house.
When he finished working in the garage, Wesley said he went back inside the house to clean up before leaving for the plumbing job.
He testified that he could hear the dogs in the kitchen making sounds he had heard before. Turning the corner, he saw what appeared to be a mess but did not realize it was blood until he got closer.
He said he saw the dogs circling Kache. When he grabbed his son, the dogs began pulling at the boy again, trying to drag him away from his arms.
Wesley testified that he punched and kicked the dogs before throwing them outside. Crying while testifying, he said he struggled to call 911.
Video shown in court showed Wesley standing in the driveway with blood covering his hands.
By then, the friend had returned to pick him up. Court heard she saw blood all over him and called 911.
The 911 dispatcher instructed Wesley to begin chest compressions. Police later arrived and attempted life-saving measures, but Kache could not be revived.
Wesley testified he was speaking with officers in an upstairs bedroom when they informed him his son had died.
An autopsy found Kache died from a dog bite injury to the neck.
Wesley said Kache had never previously been seriously hurt by the dogs, aside from one incident in which they jumped on him and caused a scratch.
He said his son loved animals and that he and the dogs got along.
Prior attacks
Wesley testified that he was aware of the dogs having previously attacked a woman named Tina Kelepouris.
Kelepouris testified Wednesday that she received multiple stitches and sustained three broken ribs and a punctured lung as a result of the Feb. 3, 2024 attack.
On Tuesday, court saw video showing her in MacDonald’s backyard when one of the dogs knocked her down before both animals began attacking her.
Kelepouris testified that one of the two witnesses to the attack told MacDonald what had happened afterward.
She said MacDonald responded by shrugging and saying, “That’s why I don’t play with the dogs anymore.”
Wesley testified that MacDonald later told him about the attack, but he dismissed concerns because he had never personally seen the dogs behave aggressively toward him.
He was also present during another incident on Feb. 29, 2024 in which the dogs killed a basement tenant’s cat.
Wesley said he helped pull the dogs off the cat and accompanied the tenant, Jesse Woodruff, to the veterinarian, but the pet died.
Wesley added that MacDonald also told him about an alleged attack in December 2023 involving Woodruff, though he again said he had never witnessed the dogs acting aggressively toward people.
Earlier in the trial, Woodruff testified about that incident, as well as the attack on his cat.
He testified that one night he had a few drinks and relaxed his guard, laying down to play with the dogs. He said the situation escalated quickly and the dogs began attacking him.
He testified the dogs bit and scratched him, and he later noticed muscle protruding from his leg. He was taken to hospital, where he received six stitches and antibiotics.
Wesley said MacDonald would take the dogs on walks, but “not as much as they should have.”
The trial is expected to continue into next week.
