No charges for Montreal pit bull owner involved in fatal attack

The owner of a pit bull that mauled a woman to death in her own backyard in Pointe-aux-Trembles last summer will not be facing criminal charges, according to La Presse.

Christine Vadnais, 55,  died after the neighbour’s dog made it’s way into her fenced-in yard and attacked her.

The French daily is reporting the Crown recently told Vadnais’ daughter, Émilie Routhier, there was insufficient evidence to charge Franklin Junior Frontal with criminal negligence.

Frontal’s lawyer said her client was at school at the time of the incident and that he had left the dog inside his parent’s home. It is unknown how it made its way into Vadnais’ yard.

The dog, that was known to be aggressive, had been registered as a boxer but Vadnais’ family was told by officials it was a pit bull.

Vadnais’ death sparked a debate around dangerous breeds, with the city of Montreal adopting controversial breed-specific legislation.

READ MORE: Pit bull attack reignites debate on banning specific dog breeds

In September, the Montreal SPCA filed a lawsuit against the city over the newly adopted bylaw.

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In October, Quebec Superior Court Justice Louis Godin ruled in favour of the SPCA, suspending the pit bull-related clauses of the animal control bylaw.

The city launched an appeal and the matter is still before the courts.