A Bury factory boss and his son appeared in court charged with manslaughter today after a 16-year-old apprentice was crushed to death only a month into his new job.
Businessman Zaffar Hussain, 59 and son Akbar, 35 were charged with unlawful killing by gross negligence after Cameron Minshull became entangled in an industrial metal lathe.
The incident occurred on January 8 2013 while he was working at Huntley Mount Engineering Ltd in Bury.
Cameron, who had just started work at the factory on December 3 2012, suffered fatal head injuries in the accident.
He was pronounced dead in Wythenshawe Hospital after being flown there by air ambulance.
At Bury magistrates court Hussain snr, a director of Huntley Mount, and Akbar a supervisor of the company were ordered to face trial by judge and jury. Both men of Bridgefield Drive, Bury, had earlier been served with court summonses.
Huntley Mount Engineering Ltd is charged with corporate manslaughter by failing to maintain a lathe in a safe condition which amounts to a gross breach of duty of care. It is also accused of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees.
Lime People Training Solutions Ltd, which places apprentices with employers, has been summonsed for failing to ensure the health and safety of a person other than an employee – but no representative turned up for the hearing.
The charges follow an investigation by Greater Manchester Police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Prosecuting Miss Elizabeth Reid said: ”These matters arise out of the death of a 16-year-old apprentice at a premises ran by the two men. Hussain snr is the sole director and the second defendant is a supervisor at the company which had a very small workforce at the time of the death.
”The company is charged with corporate manslaughter and the two defendants are charged with manslaughter by gross negligence. The company is facing offences under the health and safety at work act of failing to ensure the safety of an employee. These are matters which can only be dealt with at the crown court.
“There is no one here from Lime people training. They have been summonsed and the company is aware. That company is said to have placed the apprentice with the company that wished to have one so they had a responsibility for carrying out certain checks.
”They have been summonsed under the health and safety at work act for failing to ensure the safety of someone other than the employer. The offence can be dealt with on the same indictment.”
The Hussains were granted bail pending a preliminary hearing at Manchester Crown Court on November 12.
Cameron, a former pupil at Castlebrook and Radcliffe Riverside high schools in Bury, leaves two sisters, aged two and 13, and a 15-year-old brother.
At the time of the tragedy his devastated family said his death would leave ‘a big hole in many people’s hearts’.
His mother Joanne Hill said: “We have lost a very precious part of our lives and there are no words to describe how we are feeling.
“Cameron was a much-loved son, brother, nephew, grandson and great-grandson and a friend to many. He will leave a big hole in many people’s hearts.”
Story via Cavendish Press.
Main image courtesy of Google Maps, inset courtesy of Facebook, with thanks.
