Deeside manslaughter charge dropped

Feb 3 2010 By Dave Goodban

A CASE of manslaughter against a 55-year-old Deeside scrapyard manager was thrown out yesterday (Tuesday).

Robert Roberts was general manager at Deeside Metal in Saltney in April 2005 when 37-year-old Mark Wright, a father-of-two of Wrekin Way, Saltney, died in an explosion as more than 3,000 aerosol canisters were crushed in a baler.

Judge John Rogers QC was told that after three decisions not to prosecute there had been a change of mind by the Crown Prosecution Service.

"I’m quite satisfied it would be an abuse of process to continue this prosecution," he said after hearing legal arguments at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday.

Barrister Andrew Long, applying for the case against Mr Roberts, of Golftyn Drive, Connah’s Quay, not to continue, said it was an ‘extraordinary and wholly exceptional’ case. Judge Rogers said: "No reasonable jury could properly convict."