A man has denied charges of manslaughter after a fatal dog bite that occurred during an argument on a footpath in Wakefield on August 15. James Judge, 55, died in the hospital after being bitten by a German Shepherd dog during a dispute over "right of way." The incident happened on an old train line footpath near Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield. Emergency services were called to the scene after the altercation. James Judge was taken to Leeds General Infirmary in a critical condition but died shortly after. Lee Ellis, 55, the dog's owner, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, which caused injury resulting in death. Judge Tom Bayliss KC granted bail to Ellis, who lives in Calder Grove, Wakefield, until his trial, scheduled to begin on May 17 at Leeds Crown Court. A further pre-trial hearing was set for April 15. At an earlier hearing, solicitor Rob Fones, representing Ellis, said the dispute involved a "verbal altercation in regards to right of way." The court heard that Ellis is a self-employed farrier who has lived in the area for 30 years. An inquest into Mr. Judge's death was opened and adjourned last week. Acting senior coroner Oliver Longstaff confirmed that Mr. Judge died in Leeds General Infirmary, where he was taken after the incident, and was identified by his mother. A post-mortem examination indicated a provisional cause of death as complications from a right leg wound caused by a dog bite. The inquest also heard that Mr. Judge was unmarried and had been born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was living at the time of his death. The German Shepherd dog involved in the incident has been seized and is being held in police kennels, according to West Yorkshire Police. The case has drawn attention to the legal responsibilities of dog owners and the potential dangers of conflicts over public space usage.