PILOT Andy Hill has formally pleaded not guilty to manslaughter of the Shoreham Airshow disaster victims.
The 54-year-old will stand trial at London’s Old Bailey, where he entered his plea this morning, over the deaths of 11 men on August 22, 2015.
The plane he was flying that day crashed on the A27, killing Jacob Schilt, Matthew Grimstone, Maurice Abrahams, Matt Jones, Richard Smith, Dylan Archer, Daniele Polito, Mark Reeves, Mark Trussler, Tony Brightwell and Graham Mallinson.
Hill, of Sandon, Hertfordshire, faces 11 charges of manslaughter by gross negligence and one of recklessly or negligently endangering an aircraft under air navigation laws.
He is accused of “recklessly or negligently” endangering a Hawker Hunter G-BXFI or any person on that aircraft contrary to Article 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.
Judge Richard Marks QC set a trial date of January 14, 2019. The case will be heard by a High Court judge.
The trial is expected to last up to seven weeks, and a pre-trial review at the Old Bailey will take place in October.
Hill remains on unconditional bail.
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