No Vet Visits
In France, Curtis has never been to a veterinarian, according to testimony given today. When asked why, the presiding judge inquired of his owner. “He was up to date, I don’t think we went past the date,” Christophe Ellul responded. “At that time, I was with my ex-wife and she was the one who took care of the paperwork for all the animals.”
Focus Shifts to Curtis’s Situation
The judge turned her attention to Curtis, noting he was originally registered in the Netherlands. A veterinarian who examined him on November 21, 2019, confirmed Curtis was microchipped in the Netherlands.
The animal is currently being held in a kennel. On February 27, 2026, the kennel director provided the judge with details regarding Curtis’s living conditions.
“I Only Dedicate Myself to Work”
Christophe Ellul stated in court today that he is struggling to rebuild his life. “I can’t do it,” the defendant said. “I only dedicate myself to work.”
“Very in Love with Elisa Pilarski”: Court Discusses Psychological Evaluation
The court reviewed the psychological evaluation of Christophe Ellul. According to the expert who assessed him in 2021, the defendant is “very in love with Elisa Pilarski.”
Ellul moved closer to the region where Pilarski and their son, Enzo, are buried following the tragedy. The expert noted “great distress” in Ellul.
He presents no pathology, but is experiencing “suffering” due to the “double loss,” the expert concluded.
Argument After Ellul Lied About His Age
The judge asked Ellul how many times Elisa Pilarski, who lived in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, had visited him.
“Generally, she came with her 4×4, otherwise I would go by plane, so I don’t remember,” Ellul replied. A disagreement arose in October 2019.
“When I met Elisa, and we were chatting on the computer and she asked my age, I said I was in my forties. At that time, Madam President, I didn’t realize what would happen between us. And there was this argument when Elisa found out…” “That you had taken six years off your age,” the judge interjected.
Pilarski’s mother testified that her daughter would stay at Ellul’s home for a maximum of one week at a time.
How Elisa Pilarski and Christophe Ellul Met
Ellul was questioned about his personality, stating he now spends much of his time at work. The judge then turned to his relationship with Elisa Pilarski.
Pilarski was very attached to her horses and lived with her mother, preferring not to move away.
Ellul was seeking employment to relocate and live near her and her family.
The couple met through Facebook groups “related to dogs,” and shared a “common passion for dogs,” the judge noted.
Pilarski’s mother declined to speak at this stage of the trial.
Ellul Demands “Proof” Regarding His Dog
“If Curtis is guilty, I’ll put him down myself,” Ellul told the court. “But put the evidence on the table.”
“I Have No Wife, No Son”: Ellul’s Opening Remarks
The judge addressed Ellul, inviting him to speak freely if he wished.
“If you put proof concerning Curtis forward, I would have killed Curtis myself. I have no wife, I have no son,” Ellul said. “Do you think I would have given Curtis a chance?”
“If I fought, it was for the memory of Elisa and Enzo (the child Elisa Pilarski was carrying, who was six months pregnant; Editor’s Note). All these expert opinions… We never got answers. There were many inconsistencies. Today, I am lost… I don’t know… I just know what I saw when I arrived on the scene.”
“I don’t know, I don’t know. What I know is the truth that I told. Everything that happened.”
Recap of Facts Continues
The judge revisited the details of the case: the discovery of Elisa Pilarski’s body by her companion in the Retz forest, and the young woman’s morning routine, which included walking another dog belonging to Christophe Ellul.
She also mentioned a planned hunt in the Retz forest on the day of the incident.
Ellul remains at the stand, facing the court. He stands straight, his gaze sweeping the room.
Summary of Facts Read
The judge began reading a summary of the facts.
Ellul listened and looked at the judge as she read. His hands were resting on the railing.
The judge continued, recalling that Pilarski was six months pregnant and that the medical examiner identified numerous bites and wounds on the 29-year-old’s body.
Hearing Resumes, Ellul Called to the Stand
This proves a little after 10:21 AM. The hearing, which opened at 9:00 AM and has already been suspended twice, has resumed.
The judge began reading the summary of the facts.
Christophe Ellul is called to the stand.
Hearing Suspended Again
It is now 10:00 AM. The hearing is suspended again. The court is withdrawing to deliberate on the requests for civil party status.
Hearing Resumes After Brief Suspension
The hearing has resumed after a short suspension. The defendant’s lawyer has been speaking for several minutes.
He is contesting the civil party status of an animal defense association and also challenging the civil party status of the hunting association, which was briefly implicated in the case.
The reading of the summary of facts has not yet begun.
Day’s Schedule Outlined Before Suspension
The judge outlined the day’s schedule. The morning will initiate with a reading of the summary of facts, followed by a discussion of Christophe Ellul’s personality and his relationship with Elisa Pilarski. The situation surrounding his dog, Curtis, will also be addressed.
The hearing was suspended after an intervention by the defendant’s lawyer, Me Alexandre Novion.
Hearing Opens
The hearing is open. Christophe Ellul, now 51 years old, approached the stand. He stated his identity. Placed under judicial control, he appears freely before the Soissons Criminal Court.
The judge reminded him of the facts for which he is currently in court.
Ellul Arrives in Courtroom
Christophe Ellul has arrived in the courtroom. He is wearing a black suit.
The trial is expected to begin in the coming minutes.
Ellul Denies Dog’s Involvement
The investigation determined that Curtis was solely responsible for the death of Élisa Pilarski. However, Christophe Ellul has consistently denied any involvement of his dog since the incident.
The prosecution alleges several serious offenses: the illegal importation of Curtis into France, training the dog to attack with a suspended lure, and exposing his pregnant partner to a potentially dangerous dog.
Only Curtis’s DNA Found on Victim
Curtis was not the only dog present in the Retz forest on the day of the incident. A hunt was organized. No DNA from the hunting dogs was found on the victim. However, Curtis’s genetic profile was identified on some of the wounds and the victim’s coat.
Pilarski’s blood was also found on the animal’s dewclaw and harness.
Pilarski’s Body Found in Retz Forest
On November 16, 2019, gendarmes from the Soissons brigade went to the Retz forest where the body of Élisa Pilarski, 29, and six months pregnant, was discovered by her companion, Christophe Ellul.
He explained that he left his post at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport after receiving a call from his partner, who allegedly told him she was being attacked by a pack of dogs.
The young woman’s body showed numerous bite marks. Forensic doctors believe several dogs were involved, given the distribution, size, and depth of the wounds.
Trial of Christophe Ellul Opens in Soissons
The trial of Christophe Ellul opened today before the Soissons Criminal Court. He is being prosecuted for “involuntary manslaughter by dog aggression.”
In November 2019, Élisa Pilarski, 29 and pregnant, was found dead in a forest in Aisne, where a hunt was taking place. She was walking Curtis, an American Pitbull Terrier, owned by her partner.
The animal has been identified as the sole cause of the injuries that led to the victim’s death.
