An Edmonton woman whose dogs fatally mauled an 11-year-old boy has been convicted of criminal negligence causing death. Crystal MacDonald, 46, collapsed in court and required medical attention as Justice Eric Macklin delivered the verdict on Friday.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
As Justice Macklin read his decision, MacDonald began shaking and had to leave the courtroom for medical treatment. Her lawyer interrupted the judge to report that his client was experiencing a medical episode. Macklin had just described MacDonald's approach to controlling her dogs as 'cavalier,' noting that she blamed others for injuries caused by her animals. The judge emphasized that MacDonald left the dogs out of their kennels on the day of the attack.
'The accused did not make it as safe as possible,' Macklin stated. 'The dogs remained a constant danger to Kache Grist.'
Background of the Incident
MacDonald owned two Cane Corsos, Khaos and Khairo, which lived with her in southeast Edmonton. The dogs had a violent history prior to killing Kache Grist on April 1, 2024. They had previously killed two pets and injured three adults, including MacDonald herself, all of whom required hospital treatment. MacDonald claimed she was alarmed by these attacks and planned to have the dogs neutered and trained, but neither was done before the deadly incident.
The Crown argued that MacDonald's approach to safety was lackadaisical, as she and her roommates did not reliably kennel the animals. Macklin noted that in all attacks leading up to Kache's death, one or more of MacDonald's 'trusted' handlers were present, yet none prevented the attacks.
Credibility of the Accused
Justice Macklin found MacDonald not to be a credible witness, describing her as 'evasive and defensive whenever her actions were questioned.' The case continues to develop.
This tragic event highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the legal consequences of negligence. The community mourns the loss of Kache Grist, a young life cut short by preventable violence.
