11:58am Thursday 2nd October 2008
A fireworks factory owner and his son have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of two firefighters who died following an explosion at the site.
Martin Winter, 50, boss of Alpha Fireworks Ltd, and Nathan Winter, 23, denied the charges at a plea and case management hearing at Lewes Crown Court.
The pair, both of Marlie Farm, The Broyle, Shortgate, near Lewes, were each charged in June by Sussex Police with two counts of manslaughter.
Not guilty pleas were also entered on behalf of Alpha Fireworks Ltd, which faces two counts of contravening health and safety legislation.
The charges relate to the deaths of retained firefighter Geoff Wicker, 49, and support officer Brian Wembridge, 63, in the blast at Marlie Farm on December 3 2006.
The indictment alleges that the Winters unlawfully killed Mr Wicker and Mr Wembridge by gross negligence by failing to provide “a duty of care in the handling and the storage of fireworks that posed a mass explosion or hazard”.
Judge Richard Brown said a provisional trial date had been set aside in front of a visiting High Court judge at Lewes Crown Court on June 21 next year.
Both Nathan and Martin Winter were released on unconditional bail. A directions hearing will be held at the same court on January 9.
The Winters’ family-run firm, which was known at the time of the tragedy as Festival Fireworks UK Ltd, is one of the biggest firework importers in the UK and was responsible for the Millennium display along the River Thames.
The dead firefighters, who were both long-serving members of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, were given full brigade honours at their funeral services in front of colleagues from across the UK.
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