Director on manslaughter charge

Alexander Wright was killed when the pit he was working in collapsed

A company director who is the first in the UK to be charged under the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Act has appeared in court in Gloucestershire.

Peter Eaton of Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings is accused of gross negligence over the death of geologist Alexander Wright in a mudslide in September 2008.

Mr Wright, 27, from Cheltenham, was taking soil samples in Brimscombe, near Stroud, when a pit collapsed.

Stroud magistrates referred the case to Bristol Crown Court for 23 June.

In addition, Mr Eaton, the sole director of the company, has been charged as an individual with the common law offence of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Both Mr Eaton, 60, and his company also face one health and safety charge each relating to the same incident.

The maximum sentence for the firm is an unlimited fine.

The 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Act was brought in to make it easier to bring companies to justice over the death of employees.