The Edmonton woman whose dogs fatally mauled an 11-year-old boy failed to take 'concrete' steps to control the animals after a series of previous attacks, a Crown prosecutor argued on the final day of her trial.
In closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutor Anders Quist told Court of King's Bench Justice Eric Macklin that Crystal MacDonald's approach to controlling her two Cane Corsos was a 'marked and substantial departure' from what a reasonable person would have done. The dogs killed 11-year-old Kache Grist at MacDonald's south Edmonton home in 2024.
Quist emphasized that MacDonald relied on in-home kennels and instructions to roommates about when the dogs could be released, but those instructions were 'openly not being followed.' He said she ultimately settled on Kache's safety being 'someone else's problem.'
MacDonald testified that she had told Kache's father, Wesley Grist, not to leave his son alone with the dogs. However, Quist noted that in prior attacks, even multiple adults were not enough to stop the animals. In the year before Kache's death, the dogs had killed a Pomeranian, bitten MacDonald and her roommate, attacked a former dog sitter, and killed a roommate's cat.
MacDonald said she had inquired with a trainer but was told the first availability was months away. She also planned to have the dogs neutered but missed the appointment while grieving a deceased friend. She said she told Grist she did not want Kache visiting until the dogs were trained.
Defence lawyer Evan McIntyre argued the Crown had not proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 'She did what she could to keep Kache safe,' he said. 'We can't punish her just because the steps she took didn't work or were ignored by other parties.'
McIntyre noted that Kache was alone in the house for 45 minutes after last seeing his father, who was working in the garage, and there is no evidence of what triggered the attack. 'I'm in no way trying to blame a young boy for the consequences that befell him, but we simply don't know,' he said.
Justice Macklin is expected to give his decision Friday. Quist said if MacDonald is acquitted, the Crown intends to seek a peace bond banning her from owning dogs.
