CPS News Brief

Woman jailed for manslaughter after man died when he was hit by a tram

 

A woman who pushed a stranger off a station platform causing him to be fatally injured by a tram has been jailed for five years. 

Charissa Brown-Wellington, 31, pushed Philip Carter towards tram tracks following a brief argument at Manchester Victoria train station on 11 June. The pair were not known to each other.

Mr Carter, 30, fell between the platform and the moving tram and died following the collision. 

Brown-Wellington was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today (31 October) after admitting manslaughter at a hearing on 22 September at the same court.

She was given a three-year extended licence period in addition to the five-year prison sentence.

Nicky Moore of the CPS said: “This is a tragic case where a man lost his life following a brief argument with a complete stranger at a busy train station.

“Charissa Brown-Wellington used unnecessary force to push Mr Carter.  He had no opportunity to defend himself and was crushed between the platform and the tram.

“We originally authorised that she was charged with murder.  We accepted her plea to manslaughter at an earlier hearing as we recognised that she did not intentionally push the victim under a tram, but did so after she lost her temper during the argument. She must now face up to the consequences of her reckless actions as she begins this prison sentence. 

“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Carter.”

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

·         Charissa Brown-Wellington (dob: 19/05/1986) pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter

 

·         Nicky Moore is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North-West

 

Company fined after factory worker was crushed to death in machinery

A company and its director have been sentenced today (31 October) for causing the death of a factory worker who fell into a piece of machinery at a recycling yard. 

Safi Qais Khan died at Master Construction Products (Skips) Ltd (MCP) after he became entangled in a machine called a trommel, used to sort waste material. 

MCPS admitted the corporate manslaughter of Mr Khan, after an investigation found there was no safe system of work for the trommel and it was in a dangerous state. Essential guards to prevent entrapment were missing, there was no emergency stop button on the machine and it was surrounded by uneven and waste strewn ground. 

The company also admitted a health and safety breach of a duty owed to its employee in failing to ensure measures were in place  to minimise risks of entrapment, crushing or falls whilst working at the trommel. 

Jagbir Singh, director of MCPS, pleaded guilty to a health a safety offence. He admitted that he was aware of the way in which the company operated the trommel.  

The company was given a fine of £255,000 for corporate manslaughter. Singh was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and 300 hours of community service at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also disqualified as a company director for eight years and ordered to pay £11,500 in prosecution costs.

Michael Gregory, from the CPS, said: “MCPS Ltd let the trommel and the area around it fall into a dilapidated and dangerous state. Little thought was given by the company to the safety of its employees when working at the machine. This failure caused the death of Mr Khan.

“Singh admitted the offence after the CPS successfully showed how senior leaders’ management of the machinery played a substantial part in Mr Khan’s death. Our thoughts are with Mr Khan’s family.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Michael Gregory is a Senior Specialist Prosecutor in the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.
• Master Construction Products (Skips) Ltd pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter, contrary to the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007 and to a breach of ensuring the safety of its employees at work, contrary to section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. 
• Jagbir Singh pleaded guilty to consenting to, or conniving at, the company’s breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.