On 19 Oct 2012 at 10:04pm Judge wrote:
A man has been charged with seven counts of manslaughter over a pile-up on the M5 in Somerset last year.
Geoffrey Counsell, from Somerset, was the provider of a nearby fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club on 4 November, the night of the collision.
On 19 Oct 2012 at 11:59pm concerned wrote:
wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong
This world has gone mad.
On 20 Oct 2012 at 1:58am Dave wrote:
Was it Mr Counsell who was charged?
On 20 Oct 2012 at 8:13am Pete wrote:
Wasn't this something to do with smoke from the bonfire crossing the M5 ? If I remember correctly, the organisers were questioned, but I'm not sure any charges were brought ? And why are you bringing this up Judge ?
On 20 Oct 2012 at 10:24am A G A G R A G R O Agro wrote:
Smoke causes a crash then someone is to blame. If you were maimed you might want to call someone to account...
"Having considered the evidence in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Geoffrey Counsell, the provider of the fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club on the night of the collision, with manslaughter."
On 20 Oct 2012 at 10:27am Pete wrote:
Agree with you AA, interestingly enough there was a bit of news on this on the BBC this morning - see link.
Check it out here »
On 20 Oct 2012 at 12:21pm Guy wrote:
More damning evidence that fireworks and bonfires kill and maim.
On 20 Oct 2012 at 12:30pm Southover Queen wrote:
More evidence, more like, that if you set off a huge firework display practically underneath a motorway bridge you're like to come to grief.
On 20 Oct 2012 at 2:28pm Pete wrote:
Spot on SQ, at least we in Lewes keep our bonfires away from the main roads, and shut them off if there's a hint of a problem.
On 20 Oct 2012 at 2:42pm Dave wrote:
Except Southover right by the A27.
On 20 Oct 2012 at 5:34pm mickyboy wrote:
wait for the trial and lets see what the written risk asessment assuming there was one said.
On 20 Oct 2012 at 9:44pm Tom wrote:
Except I thought the M5 display was approx 400 metres from the motorway.
On 21 Oct 2012 at 9:46am Lopster wrote:
Damning evidence that wind blown smoke kills and maims...
Which proves... What exactly?
Apart from the fact that our legal system is laughable now - a deplorable decision
On 21 Oct 2012 at 10:54am Southover Queen wrote:
There must be quite a bit more to this story than the one we already know so I'm with Mickyboy: wait for details and don't jump to conclusions based on prejudice. (Good lord: as if anyone would *ever* do that on this forum)
On 22 Oct 2012 at 4:41pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Hmmm. As SQ says, we haven't heard the evidence, but I believe this was an annual event which presumably went off without incident in previous years.
I'll be very interested to hear why they feel this man was so negligent as to justify a manslaughter charge. I'm also not convinced that a competent driver would be unable to stop safely if they find themself in a cloud of smoke that impairs vision. Is it so very different to suddenly coming upon a patch of thick fog?