The owners of the Palace Pier are being prosecuted after an accident on a roller coaster ride.
Day-trippers on the pier-end Turbo Coaster were left dangling over a missing piece of track.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which began investigating the day after the accident 18 months ago, was due to open its case before Brighton magistrates this afternoon.
The Brighton Marine Palace and Pier Company, owned by the Gateshead-based Noble Organisation, is accused of failing to ensure the health and safety of people it did not employ.
Eight workers from a London-based design firm were on the ride during a visit to Brighton on December 11, 2002.
After the ride started, the operator spotted the problem and slammed on the emergency brake just before the cars reached the gap in the tracks.
The wheels of the front carriage were left hanging over the edge.
Pier staff used ladders to rescue the terrified passengers.
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