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Boss charged with manslaughter
Page 7
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THE BOSS of a Rotherhambased car transporter firm appeared in court this week charged with manslaughter after one of his trucks mounted a pavement and killed a pensioner.
Paul Duckmanton has already admitted falsifying documents following the accident to make it appear as if CarTrans' records were in order.
Winchester Crown Court heard how Michael Roberts was driving down The Avenue in Southampton in September 2002. As his twoaxle rigid transporter approached a pedestrian crossing he was unable to stop in time. He drove onto the pavement to avoid hitting other vehicles but hit Joyce McVey, 78.
Roberts admitted manslaughter. but the prosecution claims the responsibility is not his alone.
For the prosecution David Bartlett said the Scania transporter was found to have faulty brakes.
Coincidentally. Roberts had been involved in a minor collision in the same truck and at the same pedestrian crossing just two days before the fatal accident. Bartlett said Duckmanton had ignored this: -It should have introduced to Mr Duckmanton that something was seriously wrong with the accident vehicle and he should have got somebody to do something about it but he didn't."
Duckmanton was responsible for safety inspections of his 20strong fleet every six weeks, but at least two documents were found to have been falsified and police uncovered 40 inconsistencies.
-The defendant, together with Mr Roberts, was indifferent to the obvious risk." Bartlett concluded. -He must have appreciated that risk and was prepared to take that risk.That breach of duty led directly to the death of Mrs McVey."
The trial continues.