SOISSONS, France – In a dramatic turn of events at his trial for the 2019 death of his pregnant companion, Elisa Pilarski, Christophe Ellul acknowledged Wednesday that his dog, Curtis, was responsible for the fatal bite wounds. The admission came after years of Ellul maintaining that Pilarski was attacked by a hunting pack while walking the dog in the Retz forest in the Aisne region.
Ellul’s concession followed questioning by Guillaume Demarcq, the attorney representing the Société de Vénerie, a local hunting association that had joined the case as a civil party. “The measurements speak for themselves (the veterinary experts’ measurements of the jaws of the hunting dogs and Curtis, ed.),” Ellul stated, according to reports from RTL.fr. “I accept it and I believe it. Today, the president gave me the proof that he is guilty.”
Ellul, 51, is standing trial before the Soissons Criminal Court on charges of involuntary homicide. He had consistently claimed that Pilarski, who was six months pregnant at the time of her death, was attacked by multiple dogs during a hunt. His initial defense centered on shifting blame to the hunting community, alleging their dogs were responsible for the extensive injuries.
The shift in Ellul’s testimony appears to stem from a realization of the evidence against his own dog. “What prevented him from believing it was that there wasn’t all of this,” Ellul said, referring to the forensic evidence. Demarcq responded, “The file has been with you for years, Monsieur.” Ellul then stated, “I wanted to get to the truth. It can only be Curtis. Today I think we have the proof.”
Pilarski’s body was discovered on November 16, 2019, in the Retz forest, bearing numerous dog bite wounds. The investigation subsequently focused on Curtis, a pitbull reportedly imported illegally into France by Ellul. Expert analysis has determined that the bite marks were consistent with the physical characteristics of Curtis, according to reports in Le Nouveau Détective.
The trial began Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with a focus on the dangerousness of Curtis and Ellul’s perception of the animal. Ellul had previously insisted he believed Curtis was not capable of such an attack. However, he told the court he was prepared to accept responsibility if the evidence proved his dog was the culprit, stating, “If Curtis is guilty, spike him or I will do it, but put the evidence on the table.”
The Société de Vénerie has sought redress for the damage to its reputation caused by Ellul’s accusations, according to L’Union. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
