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 man has appeared in court charged with seven counts of manslaughter, following last year's M5 crash in Somerset. Geoffrey Counsell organised a fireworks display at a nearby rugby club on the night of the pile-up.
Smoke from the display was investigated as one of the possible causes of the crash. Seven people died and fifty-one were injured.
50 year old Geoffrey Counsell has appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court this morning charged with seven counts of manslaughter following the M5 crash in Somerset on November 4, 2011.
He was released on unconditional bail.
A preliminary hearing will be held at Bristol Crown Court on December 4.
A sculpture has been unveiled in Taunton, in memory of the seven people who lost their lives in a motorway crash described as the worst in living memory. A private service was held for families this morning, one year exactly since the night of the M5 pile-up.
A service is about to get underway in Taunton in memory of those who lost their lives in a motorway crash one year ago.
The accident, which happened on the M5 near Taunton, has been described as one of the worst in living memory. Seven people were killed and the road closed for several days.
A private service will commence at 2pm. A memorial concert at the Brewhouse Theatre in the town is also planned, with the performance starting at 3pm.
