A man charged in connection with the M5 crash in Somerset which killed seven people, has pleaded not guilty to a breach of health and safety law.
Firework company boss Geoffrey Counsell organised a display at a rugby club beside the motorway in Taunton on the night of the pile-up in November 2011. From Bristol Crown Court, Richard Payne reports.
The only man to be charged following the M5 crash in Somerset which killed seven people has today pleaded not guilty to a breach of health and safety.
Firework company boss Geoffrey Counsell organised a display at a rugby club beside the motorway in Taunton on the night of the pile-up in November 2011.
From Bristol Crown Court, Richard Payne reports:
The only man to be charged following the M5 crash in Somerset which killed seven people has today pleaded not guilty to a breach of health and safety.
Firework company boss Geoffrey Counsell organised a display at a rugby club beside the motorway in Taunton on the night of the pile-up in November 2011.
As well as the seven deaths, 51 people were injured, some seriously, in what was one of the worst ever motorway crashes in the UK.
Mr Counsell appeared at Bristol Crown Court to deny a charge that on November 4, 2011 he failed the ensure the health and safety of persons unknown.
He was released on unconditional bail at the end of a 50 minute hearing. A provisional trial date has been set for November 11.
Charges of manslaughter were dropped at an earlier hearing.
Charges of manslaughter against the man who ran a fireworks display the night of the M5 crash have been dropped. Seven people died and 51 were injured in the crash near the display at Taunton Rugby Club. Geoffrey Counsell now faces a lesser health and safety charge. Robert Murphy reports.
Manslaughter charges are to be dropped against the man who organised a firework display on the night of the M5 crash in Somerset in which seven people died. Bristol Crown Court heard that Geoffrey Cousell will face a health and safety charge.
Fifty-one people were also injured in the crash near Taunton in November 2011. Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour from Avon and Somerset police said:
– Detective Superintendent Mike CourtiourThe collision on the M5 in November 2011 was one of the worst in living memory. We launched a comprehensive investigation immediately after to establish the full circumstances which led to the collision. Our investigation was meticulous and complex. We took hundreds of witness statements, examined 34 vehicles and consulted several experts. Based on this evidence the Crown Prosecution Service took a decision to charge. However, following further consideration in recent weeks they have decided to drop the manslaughter charges.”
A fireworks display will take place in Bridgwater later ahead of the annual Guy Fawkes Carnival. The event is organised by Bridgwater Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council.
The Carnival will take place on a Saturday for the first time in years to make it more accessible to families. And there'll also be a fairground at St Matthews Field.
A fireworks display will be held in Bridgwater tonight [Friday] to prepare the town for the annual Guy Fawkes Carnival.
The Carnival will take place tomorrow for the first time in years to make it more accessible to families
There'll also be a fairground at St Matthews Field.
The event is organised by Bridgwater Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council.
Crowds still turned out to watch the Plymouth Fireworks Championships last night despite the event taking place on a reduced scale due to high winds. The Champion of Champions competition was postponed in the interests of fairness.
Didn't get chance to watch tonight's fireworks in Plymouth? See the best bits from this evening's the British Firework Championships.
Read the full storyThe British Firework Championships start in Plymouth tonight with each winner from the last six years competiting for the title of champion of champions.
One hundred thousand people are expected to watch the three shows. Here's Our Plymouth Correspondent Jonathan Gibson.
