UK News 04-02-2005 who: Prosecutor Richard Lissack QC what: Says Hatfield rail crash was "disaster waiting to happen" where: The Old Bailey, LONDON when: Monday snippet: Five men are on trial for manslaughter and charges under the Health and Safety Act following the derailment of a London to Leeds express train in October 2000, which killed four people and injured 102 due to a faulty rail. Mr Lissack told the court that each of the accused knew before the accident that the track had suffered a form of fatigue known as GCC. Anthony Walker, Nicholas Jeffries, Alistair Cook, Sean Fugill and Keith Lea all deny the charges. Balfour Beatty, the company responsible for maintenance of the southern end of the east coast main line, is charged with corporate manslaughter, and Network Rail faces health and safety charges. These are also denied. [... more]

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