Three Island Energy employees have denied causing the deaths of ten people due to negligence in connection with the Haut du Mont explosion.
Island Energy also pleaded not guilty to separate charges for breaching health and safety laws in relation to the same incident at Pier Road.
Both cases appeared in the Royal Court for the first time this morning.
The three Island Energy staff – Neil Armstrong (56), Lee Ward (57) and John Wright (59) – were each charged with ten counts of gross negligence manslaughter resulting from the gas explosion at Haut du Mont flats in Pier Road in 2022.
The court heard that two of the accused remain employed by the gas company.
Mr Armstrong was represented in court today by Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, Mr Ward was represented by Advocate Olaf Blakeley, and Mr Wright was represented by Advocate Mark Boothman.
Island Energy CEO Graeme Millar appeared in court on behalf of the company, which was represented by Advocate Mike Preston.
Crown Advocate Simon Thomas was prosecuting.
Ten people were killed and two were injured in the Haut du Mont blast, just before 04:00 on 10 December that year. All the victims were in their 60s and 70s.
They were Peter Bowler (72), Raymond Brown (71), Louise De Almeida (64), Romeu De Almeida (67), Derek Ellis (61), Sylvia Ellis (73), Jane Ralph (71), Ken Ralph (72), Billy Marsden (62) and Kathy McGinness (73).
Gross negligence manslaughter is the legal term for a form of unintentional killing caused by failing to take an action or mistakenly taking the wrong action. It is most commonly seen in medical cases.
The two Island Energy charges relate to an alleged failure to ensure the health and safety of employees at the company and others not in their employment.
The summons was brought by the Health and Safety Inspectorate.
Follow Express for updates…
