Latest news with #grossnegligencemanslaughter
Sky News
30-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
Russian captain of ship in North Sea crash pleads not guilty to gross negligence manslaughter
Why you can trust Sky News The Russian captain of a container ship involved in a North Sea crash has pleaded not guilty to gross negligence manslaughter. Vladimir Motin, master of the Solong, is charged over the death of crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38. Motin pleaded not guilty as he appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday. A previous hearing at the same court on 14 April was adjourned because of the absence of a Russian interpreter to assist the 59-year-old defendant. Motin's vessel was involved in a collision with the American tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of Yorkshire on 10 March. All 23 people on the tanker were rescued, along with 13 crew from the Solong, but Mr Pernia could not be located. The Filipino was working in the forward deck of the Solong, in an area where there was an explosion. The collision happened 10.2 nautical miles from the coast, a previous hearing was told. The 140m-long Portuguese-registered Solon was carrying around 157 containers, while the 183m-long Stena Immaculate was carrying jet fuel. The Stena Immaculate anchored at the point of collision around 15 hours before the impact and the Solong was travelling at around 15 knots when it hit the other vessel's port side. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- The Independent
Aristocrat Constance Marten's partner refuses to answer prosecution questions over baby death
The partner of aristocrat Constance Marten has refused to answer the prosecution's questions over the death of their newborn baby. Mark Gordon, 50, insisted he would only respond to queries which are 'relevant' to the case as he told the jury he was 'discontinuing his testimony' on Friday. The father, who is representing himself in court after his barristers withdrew, was due to be cross-examined by prosecutor Tom Little KC after giving evidence in his own defence earlier this week. He went into the witness box at the Old Bailey but before any questions were asked, he declared: "All right, that's it. I am finished with my testimony.' Judge Mark Lucraft KC warned him that jurors could draw inferences from his decision to cut short his evidence. However he insisted he was 'discontinuing his testimony' and returned to the dock. His decision comes after Ms Marten, 38, also refused to complete her cross-examination by the prosecution, having called another prosecutor, Joel Smith KC, 'diabolical' and a 'heartless human being'. The parents deny gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter Victoria and causing or allowing her death while they were on the run amid a high-profile manhunt in January 2023. The prosecution alleges Victoria died from hypothermia or was smothered while co-sleeping in a "flimsy" tent after they took her 'off-grid' on the South Downs in a bid to stop her from being taken into care like their four other children. Victoria's decomposing remains were later found stashed in a rubbish-filled shopping bag in a disused allotment shed. In tearful evidence on Wednesday, Mr Gordon blamed the police for setting off a series of 'calamitous' events culminating in Victoria's death. The father questioned who had given the command to launch a nationwide manhunt for them, telling the jury: 'If that manhunt had not begun, things would not have happened. I had no intention to live in a tent. 'To chase two parents who love their baby. We did not want the baby to come to harm. 'It was the chase that precipitated these events. We were not in the state of mind where a sound decision can be made.' He said he and Ms Marten 'put ourselves out' to ensure the baby's wellbeing and 'no-one could have anticipated' her death. Weeping in the witness box, Mr Gordon had said they had been treated like 'monsters' and dragged through mud like 'scum' over what happened. He also told the jury his mother was a hard-working nurse who was passionate and empathetic and had instilled 'compassion' in him. He had said: 'The idea I was underprivileged was not the case. My mother had two or three houses. She always provided for us. She showed me empathy.' The defendants, of no fixed address, deny the gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter and causing or allowing her death between 4 January and 27 February 2023. Jurors have been told the defendants were convicted at an earlier trial of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice. The retrial continues.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Nursery worker and owner appear in court in connection with child's death
A nursery worker and a business owner have appeared before magistrates charged in connection with the death of a 14-month-old boy. Nursery worker Kimberley Cookson and business owner Deborah Latewood both saw the case against them transferred to Wolverhampton Crown Court after a seven-minute hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Cookson, aged 22, did not enter a formal plea to the gross negligence manslaughter of Noah Sibanda, who died after an incident at Dudley's Fairytales Day Nursery on December 9 2022. The firm which ran the now-closed nursery, based in Bourne Street, has also been charged with one count of corporate manslaughter, including an alleged failure to ensure that children in the baby room were put down to sleep in a safe way. Both Latewood, aged 54, and the company also face a charge of failing to comply with a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure that Noah and others were not exposed to risk between November 29 and December 9 2022. The corporate manslaughter charge alleges that Noah was unlawfully killed in that the nursery failed to take reasonable care by 'failing to ensure that children in the baby room would be put down to sleep in a safe way' and also failed to ensure staff doing so were adequately trained and supervised. The charge also alleges that the 'breach of duty fell far below what could have been reasonably be expected in the circumstances' and 'was a substantial cause of the death of Noah'. The court heard formal pleas could not be entered to either manslaughter or corporate manslaughter at the magistrates' court, with the offences only triable on a Crown Court indictment. Latewood made no indication of plea on behalf of herself of the company. Magistrates granted unconditional bail to the defendants, who are both from Dudley, and ordered them to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on June 10.
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- The Guardian
Nurse charged after death of man at Berkshire police station
A nurse has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the death of a man at a UK police station. William Cameron, 38, died after being taken into custody at Loddon Valley police station, near Reading in Berkshire, on 8 January 2020. On Monday, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that a healthcare professional – named as Sean Cregg – would face charges after a review of evidence from the police watchdog, theIOPC. A police sergeant was under investigation after Cameron's death but will not face charges. Urging against commentary on the case that could prejudice proceedings, Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS special crime division, said: 'Following a review of the evidence from the IOPC, we have authorised criminal charges against a healthcare professional after the death of William Cameron, 38, in 2020. 'Sean Cregg, 35, a nurse employed by Mountain Healthcare at the time, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and an offence under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 'No further individuals have been charged in connection with this case.' The watchdog referred the case to the CPS for a charging decision in 2021. Cameron's sister, Patricia Cameron, who is being supported by the charity Inquest, which helps families bereaved by state-related deaths, said: 'William was a kind, loving and protective brother. He was one in a million. 'It has been five and a half years since William died and I remain completely invested in finally getting some answers to questions I've been asking myself since William died.' Cregg is expected to appear at Westminster magistrates court on 1 July.
