CPS News Brief

CAV Aerospace Ltd. convicted of corporate manslaughter

Piers Arnold, of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said:

“This company ignored repeated and clear warnings about the dangers of their stock levels, refusing to take action partly because it was considered too expensive. Paul Bowers and his family have paid the price for the company’s failure to take the action that was so clearly needed. I hope that the company’s conviction today can be a small comfort to his family, and our thoughts are with them at this time.”

 

Information:

CAV Aerospace Ltd. has been found guilty of corporate manslaughter, following the death of Paul Bowers. The company will be sentenced on 31 July at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Bowers died after a stack of metal sheets collapsed on top of him in a warehouse, trapping and crushing him. The metal sheets, which had been delivered to the warehouse at the company’s request and for the company’s purposes, collapsed as a result of the dangerously high levels of stock in the warehouse.

The senior management of CAV Aerospace Ltd. received clear, unequivocal and repeated warnings over a sustained period of years prior to the fatal incident. Some of the most obvious solutions were rejected on cost grounds.

The company was warned ahead of the fatal accident that there were potentially disastrous consequences if nothing significant was done about this. Mr Bowers, one of the most recent additions to the team, became trapped under a stack of raw sheets of metal which fell on top of him as he made his way down a designated safe walkway.

Charges:

CAV Aerospace Ltd. convicted of:

Corporate manslaughter, contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.

Failure of an employer to discharge its duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of persons other than their employees, contrary to sections 3(1) and 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Henry Bett convicted of causing death by dangerous driving

Henry Bett, aged 26, has today (21^st July) been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving at Huntingdon Crown Court and will be sentenced on 20^th August.

Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: 

“This was a very sad case, the consequences of which have had a terrible impact on many lives. The victim was a wife and mother, and her family and friends have been devastated by her death.

“Rebecca Brown, 43 years old, had been driving along West Acre Road, Castle Acre, Norfolk, with her son in the car, shortly after 3pm on 04 December 2013, when she was struck head on by a Fendt tractor driven by Henry Bett. The driver’s side of Mrs Brown’s Fiat Ulysses people carrier was crushed and she died at the scene.

“Bett was travelling in the middle of the road at speed and failed to take any or sufficient steps to avoid a collision with Mrs Brown’s vehicle. Following the collision the tractor continued some 45 metres down the road before coming to a halt. On the evidence presented at trial he had 100 metres of visibility leading up to the point of the collision in which he should have seen Mrs Brown’s vehicle ahead of him and should have quite easily steered around her, as she had pulled over onto the nearside verge to give the tractor room to pass. It is likely that his use of cocaine 12-24 hours before the collision caused a lack of concentration and the slowing of his reactions. It should act as a reminder to others that any use of drink/drugs before driving or operating machinery can have very serious consequences.

“We have worked closely with Norfolk Police and Essex Police since this investigation was launched and as a result of the hard work and diligence of the prosecution team, a just outcome has been achieved. We hope that the conviction will in some way help Mrs Brown’s family come to terms with this tragic event.  Our thoughts are very much with them at this time.”

Uncle and nephew charged over attempt to join ISIL in Syria – nephew charged over plot on US military

Junead Ahmed Khan, 24, and his uncle Shazib Ahmed Khan, 22, both of Luton, have been charged with one offence contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006. The charge dates between 1 August 2014 and 10 May 2015. Junead Ahmed Khan has been further charged with an additional count contrary to section 5 dating between 10 May 2015 and 14 July 2015.

Deborah Walsh, Deputy Head of Counter Terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service’s SO15, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Junead Khan and Shazib Khan with the intention of committing acts of terrorism.

“It is alleged that Junead Khan and Shazib Khan had been planning on travelling to Syria to join the proscribed organisation Islamic State in Levant (ISIL).

“It is further alleged that Junead Khan was planning a terrorist attack on US military personnel in the UK and he has been charged with an additional terrorism offence to reflect this.

“The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

“Junead Khan and Shazib Khan will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today, 21 July 2015.

“Criminal proceedings have now commenced and both men have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”