THE trial of a company director and his two animal feed businesses charged with the manslaughter of a 12-year-old schoolboy has got underway.
Michael John Jepson, 50, of Newcastle Road, Holmes Chapel, is charged in relation to the death of Congleton schoolboy Gerard Byrne, who died after being struck by a lorry as he walked home from school on June 22, 1999.
Jepson is a senior director at HJ Lea Oakes Ltd and its subsidiary Oakes Millers Ltd, of Aston Mill, Nantwich, both of which are charged with manslaughter and failing to discharge a duty.
A jury sworn in yesterday afternoon at Chester Crown Court heard that Gerard, a pupil at St Joseph's College, Trent Vale, had got off the train at nearby Congleton station.
He had stopped to tie his shoe laces on the pavement outside the entrance of Oakes Mill, in Biddulph Road, in Congleton, when the accident happened.
Opening the case, Julian Goose, prosecuting, said: 'The death of Gerard Byrne was caused by the gross negligence of these three defendants, HJ Lea Ltd, Oakes Millers Ltd and Michael Jepson.'
Mr Goose explained that the mill had a turning area for the many articulated HGVs that used the yard each day, but if the yard was congested drivers would often reverse down the narrow driveway onto Biddulph Road.
Mr Goose told the jury that at the time of the collision the vehicle had its rear offside wheels on the pavement.
The trial is continuing.
