Hull deaths case in Crown Court

The prosecution of a property company responsible for a Hull development, where three building workers were killed in April 2000, is to be transferred to the Crown Court.

The original Health & Safety Executive prosecution of the company, Marketing Exchange for Africa, and its managing director Murli Motiram Thadani, opened last week at Hull Magistrates Court.

At that hearing Thadani declined to enter a plea on behalf of either himself or the company. The company has now been given until 16 January to enter a plea.

The case centres on charges of alleged breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. If found guilty, Thadani and the company will face unlimited fines. A prison sentence may be handed down for one of the breaches.

Speaking at a demonstration outside the court, TGWU national secretary Bob Blackman said: "These deaths shook the local community and led to calls for action. Now it is for the court to hear all the evidence and make its decision. The charges being brought are serious and could carry substantial penalties."

He added: "The TGWU will continue to call for changes in the law to provide for corporate manslaughter until we see a real culture change in the industry which puts the safety and welfare of building workers first and profits second."