Guilty Of Corporate Manslaughter: Fine? - £2!

Liverpool Crown Court was the scene this week of the case of the manslaughter of Christopher Knoop whilst at work being finally heard. Despite North West Aerosols bosses Stanley Brine, Len Buckland and Jim Milnes not bothering to turn up, the case continued without them.

Christopher Knoop died and three other men were badly burnt when flames ripped through Aintree-based North West Aerosols in 2005, but this week (4th July) the jury at Liverpool Crown Court took just half an hour to find the firm guilty of breaching two health and safety laws by failing to protect its employees.

Relatives and a large contingency of supporters stood behind the banner of Families Against Corporate Killing outside the court room to draw publicity to the case and highlight the lack of justice in this country still as businesses continue to flout the law and treat the health and safety of their workforce with contempt.

The judge said that the explosion at the North West Aerosols factory in Aintree that killed Christopher Knoop and injured three of his work colleagues was an "accident waiting to happen". Prosecutors said it was "both foreseeable and preventable".

But due to the fact that the law still does not provide for individuals to be prosecuted, only the company can be taken to court and since the appalling incident in 2005, the firm's gone into liquidation with assets of just £284

If the company was profitable, they would have faced a fine of at least £250,000 the judge is reported as saying.
As the company concerned is no longer trading, fines awarded were always going to be a token gesture in this case.

Overall the fines came to the sum total of £3 - £1 for the death of 54 year old Christopher Knoop, and £1 for causing injury to his colleague. The company, North West Aerosols, will have to pay a further £1 towards the £18,000 costs of bringing the case.

The Health and Safety Executive, who brought the prosecution, believe it was worth it for the message it sends out to other firms.

The local paper Liverpool Daily Post and Echo quoted Mr Knoop’s sister Christel Stewart as saying: “It’s just a joke. There is no justice. I will not let this rest and I intend to fight on, not just for the sake of Christopher but for all the other employees who are put at risk by results like this.”

FACK, the Hazards Campaign and trade unions have been calling on the government to place legal duties on directors for health and safety for many years so that, as in this case, they could be held legally accountable and if found guilty they would face prison sentences.  Despite promises, all we have are voluntary codes and voluntary guidance, and now an inadequate new Corporate Manslaughter Act.

Hilda Palmer, of Families Against Corporate Killers, said: "This case is a prime example of why the law needs to be changed so that directors can be held personally liable for cases like this."

Corporate Manslaughter Laws Criticised

Source: FACK / Liverpool Daily Post

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