OT Maintainance man gets 4 years for manslaughter

[ARW]

I wonder if he got that long behind bars because he pleaded not guilty.

[Nightjar]

It wouldn't have helped, but the fact that he should have been aware of the risk of death or serious injury from his act and the fact that several days had passed without any attempt to fit even a temporary barrier would both have been factors in the sentencing.

Colin Bignell

[GB]

Words fail me! This was a safety barrier 60 feet up, and he deliberately took out a panel from it and left it open for several days. Surely, that is more than negligent?

It is just as well that I am not a judge, as I would have given him life.

[The Medway Handyman]

It was an incredibly stupid thing to do. An accident waiting to happen.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Something I read in one of the earlier reports was that he told his employer he had bought a replacement piece of glass and claimed the money back. Actually, he just took a different panel out which he thought they wouldn't see. If that was the case, it goes well beyond even gross negligence.

[Andy Cap]

More like criminal negligence.

[Nightjar]

If that is true, 'for monetary gain' is another factor that will increase the sentence.

Colin Bignell

[Brian Gaff]

It kind of makes me wonder why people do not take road builders to court when they design stupid shared surfaces which usually end up with a cyclist or pedestrian being killed or injured due to nobody quite knowing who has right of way.

Brian

[Tim Watts]

On Saturday 15 February 2014 16:44 Andrew Gabriel wrote in uk.d-i-y:

If that's true, it should be manslughter and he should be inside for a VERY long time.

[Dave Liquorice]

When his fellow cons find out that he's a "kiddie killer" his life inside won't be a happy one...

[Andrew Gabriel]

He *was* convicted of manslaughter.

[Tim Watts]

On Saturday 15 February 2014 21:39 Andrew Gabriel wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Somehow the "4 years" seemed to negate that.

[Tim+]

Usually? Just how often Brian?

Shared surfaces are all about mutual respect for ALL users with no group having priority. Creating rights of way creates intolerance.

Tim

[Tim+]

end up with a cyclist

[Graham.]

I have found the judges sentencing remarks.

[Bill Wright]

On the other hand if he has practical skills (and enough social sense to exploit them) he will be in constant demand.

Bill

[ARW]

Thanks for that.

It's a sad case for everyone involved and I am making no comment about the 4 year sentence.

[Andrew Gabriel]

This does not make reference to having not bought a replacement panel, but instead refers to a replacement panel not fitting, so it seems more likely he bought a replacement panel which turned out not to fit. Given the character references, it seems likely the earlier report isn't true.

[News]

In message , ARW writes

It is a terrible case both for the family and the guy who has ended up in gaol. No, of course he should not have left the gap, but interesting to read that his hours had been cut, and he was extremely busy. Doubtless his workload was not reduced to reflect the reduction in hours. Either he just forgot, or, more likely, it was part of a long list of jobs he knew were outstanding, and intended to deal with 'eventually'. Very, very sad for all concerned.

[GB]

Having read the Judge's remarks, I feel more sympathetic towards the maintenance guy. Nevertheless, to create a hazard like that is pretty amazing. Why he pleaded not guilty is beyond me, unless he genuinely did not remove that panel. Leaving the gap for even 5 minutes was stupid beyond belief, let alone sticking it on the bottom of his mental to-do list.