Two gas workers guilty over fatal explosion

Two gas workers have been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter following a fatal explosion in a block of flats.

Ten people died following the explosion at Haut du Mont flats in Jersey in the early hours of 10 December 2022.

Employees Neil Armstrong and John Wright were found guilty of 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter on Wednesday. Jurors also returned a unanimous guilty verdict for gas company Island Energy for health and safety breaches.

Another worker, Lee Ward, denies 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter. Jurors are yet to reach a verdict on him.

Commissioner Andrew Oldland told jurors he would accept a majority verdict on Ward.

Armstrong, 58, kept his head down while the verdicts were delivered. Wright, 60, stared forward.

Island Energy's CEO Graeme Millar, who was representing the company in court, looked emotionless as the guilty verdict was delivered.

The court heard jurors had deliberated for a total of 25 hours and eight minutes so far, with deliberations to continue to reach a verdict for Ward.

The residents who died in the explosion were Peter Bowler, 72, Billy Marsden, 62, Derek Ellis, 61, Sylvia Ellis, 73, Ken Ralph, 72, Jane Ralph, 71, Romeu De Almeida, 67, Louise De Almeida, 64, and Raymond Brown, 71.

Kathy McGinness, 73, lived in a building adjacent to Haut du Mont, and was injured in the explosion and died in hospital on 25 December 2022.

Armstrong, who was 54 at the time of the explosion, was network officer, and the supervisor of Wright and Ward.

Wright, who was 57 at the time of the explosion, worked as a team leader.

The court heard the Island Energy workers were excavating gas pipes on the road below the buildings that serviced the area of La Collette, including the flats, on Friday 9 December - the day before the explosion.

During works, a pipe was incorrectly cut, which stopped the gas supply to other properties in La Collette.

The court heard gas was reintroduced into the system, but without a pressure test being carried out to check for any leaks.

At 03:53 GMT on 10 December 2022, an explosion occurred in flat 28 that caused Block H to collapse. It was ignited by an unknown spark or flame, the court heard.

A second explosion happened shortly after 04:00 in Block F.

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