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Prosecutors are considering whether further action needs to be taken after police handed over a complex file of evidence relating to the collision of the L'Ecume II fishing trawler and a Condor vessel last year, leading to the loss of three lives.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the police had recently handed over a file to the Law Officers' Department, and that a similar file relating to the Pier Road explosion will be handed over "when the experts’ reports have been received, fully considered and the investigation concluded".
The Law Officers' Department, which is overseen by the Attorney General, will examine the evidence and determine if it is in the public interest to pursue criminal charges related to these investigations.
Pictured: The L'Ecume II trawler. (Rob Currie)
Given the “size and complexity” of the evidence file relating to the L'Ecume collision – codenamed 'Operation Nectar' – Deputy Kristina Moore noted that "it will take some time to consider the evidence”. She was unable to provide a specific timeline for completion.
Deputy Moore's update on both investigations came in response to a written question from Deputy Monfort Tadier.
Noting that the investigations are "independent of Government", she further noted that a decision as to whether reports on the findings of the investigations will be published will be made by the prosecuting authorities "at an appropriate time".
Pictured: Emergency Services at the scene of the Pier Road explosion in December.
Deputy Moore described Operation Spire, the investigation into the Haut du Mont explosion, as “one of the largest and most complex criminal investigations in the Island’s history”.
The explosion, which occurred on 10 December in the Andium Homes-run Haut du Mont Flats, tragically claimed the lives of 10 individuals and displaced dozens of residents living in the area.
In August of this year, it was confirmed that three people had been arrested on suspicion of "gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the Pier Road explosion.
The men were arrested between Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 August, and were later released on bail.
Deputy Moore described Operation Nectar as “a similarly large and complex investigation".
Pictured: Jervis Baligat, Mick Michieli and Larry Simyunn were all aboard the L'Ecume II when it sank.
The L’Ecume II incident involving the Commodore Goodwill freight ship occurred on 8 December and led to a 36-hour search-and-rescue operation.
The bodies of crew members Larry Simyunn and Jervis Baligat were found a week later.
In the following months, the body of the vessel's missing skipper, Michael Michieli, was recovered from the sunken wreck.
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