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Corporate Manslaughter Trial Delayed The trial of the first British company charged under the landmark Corporate Manslaughter Act has been adjourned for 18 weeks because its director is seriously ill. Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings is the first firm to be prosecuted under the 2007 Act and is accused over the death of 27-year-old geologist Alex Wright. From Cheltenham, Mr Wright died in September 2008 when a trench collapsed on him as he collected soil samples at a housing development site in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire. Mr Eaton, of Stroud, also faces a charge of gross negligence manslaughter, and both he and his company also face one charge each of Failure to discharge a duty, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Mr Justice Field told the jury: "What has happened in this case is that I have acceded to the application of the defence to adjourn this trial for a longish period because the defendant Mr Eaton requires urgent and intensive medical treatment. It would be unfair to require him to participate in this trial at the same time as undergoing this treatment." Mr Eaton could be jailed for life if convicted, with the maximum sentence for his firm, which also faces charges for health and safety breaches, being an unlimited fine. Source: IOSH / BBC News
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