Skip to content

Trial for woman charged in dog attack underway

The trial of a woman charged after a Calgary woman was attacked and severely injured by two pitbulls in a Sundre mobile home in August 2012 is underway. Rita Phillip, 59, faces a charge of aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm.

The trial of a woman charged after a Calgary woman was attacked and severely injured by two pitbulls in a Sundre mobile home in August 2012 is underway.

Rita Phillip, 59, faces a charge of aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm.

Her Court of Queen's Bench trial is being held before Justice J. Strekaf. The judge-alone trial started Monday.

Deanne Wolfe suffered severe injuries, included deep wounds to her arms, legs, face and head.

Crown prosecutor Britta Kristensen told the court the attack took place in Phillip's residence and the dogs belonged to Phillip.

RCMP constable Abe Letkeman was one of the first officers on the scene responding to a 911 call.

He testified Monday, describing a shocking scene inside the residence.

"You could see there was blood all over the walls," said Letkeman.

"The kitchen floor was soaked with urine and blood."

He said he discovered Wolfe unconscious on the floor of one of the bedrooms.

"She was grey and still. I said to Earl (Sundre RCMP officer Earl Hutchinson) 'I think she is dead'," he said. "A handful of meat was missing from her arm. Her right ear was pretty much gone."

She had other bites on her other arm and legs, he said.

Letkeman and Hutchinson dragged the woman out of the residence and she was taken by ambulance to Sundre Hospital and Care Centre.

"The nurses at the hospital were shocked. They had never seen injuries like that before," he said.

After Wolfe was sent to hospital Letkeman and other officers went back inside the residence.

Two dogs were in a second bedroom and were barking loudly and smashing against the door.

"The dogs went wild," he said.

After the dogs were tranquillized by a vet firing through an outside window, Letkeman started to enter the bedroom.

One of the dogs then ran out of the room and down a hallway.

A second RCMP officer then fired three or four shots at the dog, said Letkeman.

The dog then came back at Letkeman, who shot and killed the animal.

"I waited until the dog was five feet away. I then shot the dog and it died instantly," he said.

Letkeman was continuing to testify at press time Monday.

The trial is scheduled until Friday.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks