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25
July 2001
Crown Court Ruling to Dismiss Corporate
Manslaughter Prosecution
On Friday 20 July, Mr Justice Holland ruled that the
jury should return a verdict of "not guilty"
in relation to the charges of manslaughter against Mr
Michael Jepson, Oakes Millers Ltd and HJ Lea Oakes Limited
over the death of 12 year old Gerard Byrne.
Mr Jepson was a director of both companies
The companies subsequently pleaded guilty to a breach
of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were fined
a total of £50,000.
Note to Editor
Gerard Byrne was killed in June 1999 when a lorry reversed
unaided out of an animal feed mill opposite Congleton
station in Cheshire. There was evidence that this was
a regular practice. The company had been warned by the
HSE in 1992 that lorries should not reverse out of the
mill without a banksman.
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