Gross Negligence Manslaughter Acquittals
9th Sep 2026
Mark Balysz KC, leading Jack Murphy, acted for a Contracts Manager (“TC”) acquitted of gross negligence manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court, following a workplace fatality due to the collapse of a 3 metre deep unprotected trench.
In April this year, after a four-month trial, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. The prosecution subsequently offered no evidence on the manslaughter count and a not guilty verdict was entered.
TC pleaded guilty to a single offence under s.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (failing to take reasonable care as an employee), the plea following a Goodyear indication from the Court that any sentence of imprisonment would be suspended. On 9th September he was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Culpability was agreed as high and harm agreed at category 1
Mark and Jack were instructed by Mark Brookes and Martha Norman-Long at Clyde and Co.
This result follows the acquittal earlier this year of another of Mark’s clients, the former Head of Sport of UK Athletics, on a like charge of gross negligence manslaughter, also at the Central Criminal Court. There, a three-month trial was avoided by the client pleading guilty to a s.7 offence; he was sentenced to a community order, with culpability assessed as medium and harm at category 2.
In this case Mark led Henry Hughes at 187 Fleet Street, instructed by John Hartley at Primas Law.
