Emmerdale's Tom 'to be killed off' by Belle's dog in shock twist - as fans 'work out' how

Fans of Emmerdale have predicted that Belle Dingle's pooch, Piper, might be instrumental in the death of character Tom King.

For a number of months now, viewers have seen Tom, played by James Chase, be manipulative and abusive towards Belle, portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper, even to the extent of poisoning her pet dog Piper.

Tensions escalated dramatically during an ill-fated trip to Wales the couple undertook. After days of constant mistreatment and the heartless act of leaving Piper out in the cold, Belle decided it was time to escape back to the village. She made a defiant stand against Tom, declaring the end of their marriage, and since then Tom has moved in with the Kings who are oblivious to his toxic behaviour.

Despite their break-up, and Belle taking off to Scotland for a breather, Tom is not ready to let go of the relationship. In recently aired episodes, he smirked as he managed to secretly obtain a key to Belle's house, reports the Express.

Tom was seen entering Belle's home with a mysterious package, later leaving with a smug grin.

Rumours are circulating that actor James Chase is set to depart from the soap following the culmination of this domestic abuse narrative, leading fans to deduce that his character may well be written out through death.

Playing into this theory, viewers are speculating on the plot twist that Belle's canine companion Piper could prove fatal to Tom.

One fan on Reddit proposed: "Do we think Piper is going to have a hand in killing Tom somehow?". Another viewer contributed their own take on the theory: "Belle pushes Tom away while they argue. Piper's behind his feet and he ends up tripping and bashing his head."

One viewer speculated: "A whodunit story where he is found at the bottom of