Latest news with #KeithDavies
The Independent
18-03-2025
- The Independent
UK Athletics and former head of sport plead not guilty to manslaughter charges over Paralympian's death
UK Athletics and its former head of sport have pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter over the death of a Paralympian during training in 2017. Abdullah Hayayei, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was injured at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on July 11, 2017 and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was training for the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when part of a metal throwing cage fell on him. The 36-year-old had previously represented the UAE at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, of Leytonstone, east London, pleaded not guilty to a charge of gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence when he appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body for athletics, also pleaded not guilty to a charge of corporate manslaughter and one of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees. UK Athletics Limited was represented by Simon Antrobus KC, who entered the pleas on behalf of the organisation. An eight-week trial was set for October 12, 2026 at the Old Bailey and a case management hearing is to take place at the same court on December 12, 2025. Davies was released on unconditional bail.
Sky News
18-03-2025
- Sky News
UK Athletics and former sports boss plead not guilty to manslaughter over death of athlete Abdullah Hayayei
UK Athletics and a former World Para Athletics boss have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the death of a Paralympian in London eight years ago. A metal pole fell and hit Abdullah Hayayei on the head while he was training at Newham Leisure Centre, east of the capital, on 11 July 2017. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The United Arab Emirates Paralympian, 36, was training for the F34 class discus, javelin, and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when the pole, part of a throwing cage, fell on him. Appearing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Keith Davies, who was head of sport for the championships at the time, pleaded not guilty to gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence. UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body for athletics, entered the same plea for the same charges through their barrister, Simon Antrobus KC. The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against both parties in January. An eight-week trial is due to begin on 12 October 2026 at the Old Bailey, the court was told on Tuesday, with a case management hearing due on 12 December this year. Mr Davies, 77, of Leytonstone, east London, was released on unconditional bail. Mr Hayayei made his Paralympic debut at the Rio de Janeiro games in 2016 and was set to feature in his second World Championships in 2017 before he died.
Associated Press
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
British athletics plead not guilty to manslaughter charges over Paralympian thrower's death
LONDON (AP) — The governing body for athletics in Britain and a sports official pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of manslaughter over the death of a Paralympic athlete who was hit on the head by a metal pole during training in 2017. The 36-year-old thrower Abdullah Hayayei, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was injured at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on July 11, 2017, and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was training in preparation for the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put at the world para athletics championships in London when part of a throwing cage fell on him. Keith Davies, who the police said was head of sport for the 2017 world paralympic athletics championships, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offense, police and the Crown Prosecution Service said in January. UK Athletics, the national governing body, has been charged with corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offense. An eight-week trial is scheduled to open on Oct. 12, 2026.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- The Independent
UK Athletics and man, 77, plead not guilty over death of Paralympian
UK Athletics and a 77-year-old man have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter over the death of a Paralympian who was hit on the head by a metal pole during training in 2017. Abdullah Hayayei, 36, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was injured at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on July 11 2017 and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was training in preparation to represent his country in the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when part of a throwing cage fell on him. Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, of Leytonstone, east London, pleaded not guilty to a charge of gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence when he appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body for athletics, also pleaded not guilty to a charge of corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence. UK Athletics Limited was represented by Simon Antrobus KC, who entered the pleas on behalf of the organisation. An eight-week trial was set for October 12 2026 at the Old Bailey. A case management hearing is to take place at the same court on December 12 2025. Davies was released on unconditional bail.
The Independent
31-01-2025
- The Independent
UK Athletics and man, 77, face court over death of Paralympian during training
UK Athletics and a 77-year-old man have appeared in court charged with manslaughter over the death of a Paralympian who was hit on the head by a metal pole during training in 2017. Abdullah Hayayei, 36, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was injured at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on July 11 2017 and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was training in preparation to represent his country in the F34 class discus, javelin and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when part of a throwing cage fell on him. On Friday, Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, from Bushwood, Leytonstone, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence. UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body for athletics, also appeared in the same court charged with corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence. UK Athletics and Davies were told by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring the case was being sent to the Old Bailey on February 28.
