Manslaughter verdict over trailer death

The hearing is at Bristol Crown Court

The owners of a runaway trailer that crushed a man to death when it broke free from a tractor have been convicted of manslaughter.

Stephen Hayfield, 39, of Hallen, near Avonmouth, died of multiple injuries in November 2000, after he was hit by the 20-tonne trailer.

Dennis Clothier and Sons, based in Chewton Mendip, Somerset, and one of its directors, Julian Clothier, were found guilty of manslaughter.

Julian Clothier, 33, who was responsible for maintenance of the company's vehicles, was released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced later - as will the company.

Tractor driver Simon Burrows, 27, from Bath, was cleared of manslaughter.

'Dangerously loaded'

The jury at Bristol Crown Court had heard how the trailer sped off after the agricultural contractors sent it out dangerously loaded with straw.

Mr Hayfield was sheltering from the rain in his car while on a fishing trip in the Mendip Hills, when he saw the trailer careering towards him.

He jumped out and tried to run away but stumbled and was crushed.

Earlier, the jury heard how the driver had been trying to tow the trailer, loaded with straw and as heavy as two double-decker buses, up a steep country lane covered in wet leaves.

As his tractor struggled up the hill, the badly worn hitch fixing it to the trailer snapped under the strain.

An extra brake which could have slowed or even stopped the trailer was not connected at the time of the crash.