XL bully dog which fatally bit man was not type to savage anyone, defendant says

A woman who denies owning an XL bully that bit her partner's father, causing him to bleed to death, has told a court the animal was not "the type of dog to savage anyone".

Chanel Fong, 33, is accused of being the owner of the dog, Cookie, that was allegedly dangerously out of control at the time, as well as an alternative charge of being the person in charge of the dog at the time of the attack.

Her partner's father, Keven Jones, 62, from Chester, died from severe blood loss after being bitten on the leg.

The court heard he had been in poor health and had been taking methadone and blood thinning medication, and had been staying at Chanel Fong's Wrexham home in May 2022.

The court previously heard the dog was owned by Fong and her partner, the victim's son Joshua Jones, who was not present at the time of the attack.

Prosecutor Mark Connor said that Fong had stated Cookie belonged to her partner.

Concluding the prosecution's case on Thursday, Connor said that, in a police interview, Fong told officers: "Cookie isn't the type of dog to savage anyone."

Fong then gave evidence in court, where she was asked by defence barrister Rebecca Filletti whether she would ever leave her seven-year-old daughter alone with a dog.

Fong said she "just wouldn't leave a child with any dog".

The court heard there were six dogs at the property, but only one, a miniature Pinscher called King, was Fong's, while the others all belonged to her partner.

"The other dogs were Josh's dogs. King was solely mine," she said.

Asked who registered the other dogs with a vet, she repeatedly said "Josh".

She said her partner had organised all breeding and registering of the dogs.

Asked who would have had the other dogs if the couple had separated, she again replied: "Josh."

The trial continues.