Cliffe dumper truck tragedy trial begins
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by Keith Hunt
A construction boss has gone on trial accused of the
manslaughter of a worker who drowned when his dumper truck plunged
into a lake.
Mark Wilkin was trapped two-and-a-half metres below the water at
Buckland Lake Reserve in Salt Lane, Cliffe, in December 2007.
Edward Day’s company, E J Construction, employed 45-year-old Mr
Wilkin to work on redeveloping the quarry.
Richard
Matthews, prosecuting, said Mr Wilkin was employed full-time for
six to eight years and Day, 53, was to describe him as "the hardest
worker I have ever come across".
The victim suffered from chronic epilepsy but had only ever
suffered attacks at night. If he had a fit at night he would be
unfit for work the next morning.
"Doctors agree is it very unlikely he suffered an epileptic fit
on the day he died," Mr Matthews told a jury at Maidstone Crown
Court.
"In any event, the prosecution say whether he did or not is not
an issue you will be asked, nor is it necessary, to resolve in this
case."
The prosecutor said the project involved moving hundreds of
tonnes of earth around the site. A 20-tonne excavator and two
nine-tonne dumper trucks were used.
Mr Matthews said the work Mr Wilkin was required to do was
dangerous and represented a real hazard.
"The risk of overturning into deep water is a great one," he
said. "There is a real chance of a dumper going over the edge. That
is exactly what happened to the unfortunate Mark Wilkin."
Mr Matthews said a health and safety inspector found the site
had nothing around it which could properly be described as
protection to reduce the risk of vehicles inadvertently being
driven into the water.
Day, of Longfield Road, Longfield, denies manslaughter.
The trial continues.
Wednesday, March 10 2010
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