Explosion death boss released from jail
One of only a handful of bosses to be jailed after the death of a worker has been released. Glen Hawkins, the boss of the Anchor Garage in Peacehaven, where teenage trainee mechanic Lewis Murphy died in an explosion, has had his manslaughter conviction quashed at an Appeal Court hearing.
Hawkins was found guilty of manslaughter earlier this year and jailed for nine months (Risks 200). His release came after an Appeal Court judge ruled in June that evidence used at the trial should not have been allowed. The judge said a statement made by Mr Hawkins should not have been admitted as evidence because it was prejudicial to the defendant.
The Crown was also refused a retrial due to the time Mr Hawkins had already spent in prison. Lewis' father, Michael, said the family was left 'completely stunned' by the decision. 'We feel gutted and completely robbed, we are just in limbo now because there is nothing the police or the CPS can do. We won't stop fighting for justice for Lewis and we will take time to consider the possibility of civil action.'
Sussex Police said they would be studying the Appeal Court's decision once the full judgment had been received. Only five company directors have ever been jailed for manslaughter.