'No pressure of time' for jurors to reach verdict

A jury deliberating in a trial over a fatal gas explosion has been told there is "no pressure of time" to return a verdict.

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

Gas workers Neil Armstrong, John Wright and Lee Ward deny 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter, while gas company Island Energy has pleaded not guilty to health and safety breaches. Jurors retired to consider a verdict earlier.

Judge Andrew Oldland told the 12 jurors it was about "holding people to account" if the accused caused death by gross negligence, but he added: "No doubt the defendants all deeply regret what happened."

Summing up the case of the three gas workers, the judge said the defence argued there was no obvious or serious risk of death in the lead-up to the incident on 10 December 2022.

However, the prosecution argued they ignored the purpose of a pressure test, which checks for leaking gas, meaning they were dealing with the unknown.

Regarding Island Energy, the defence argued no company could foresee such a departure from its procedures which it said were "adequate".

The prosecution argued Island Energy's procedures were "confusing and inadequate" and there was a lack of implementation of those procedures.

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