Pc faces boys' manslaughter trial

Gameli Akuklu and William Kadama were best friends

A Metropolitan Police officer is to go on trial charged with killing two teenage boys who drowned.

Gameli Akuklu and William Kadama, both 14 and from north London, died at Metropolitan Police facilities in Hendon, north London, in July 2002.

They were pulled from the pool by a lifeguard after being discovered unconscious underwater.

Pc Danny Phillips, 42, of the force's human resources directorate, goes on trial at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.

William, from Grahame Park, near Edgware, and his best friend Gameli, of Colindale, were among a group of youngsters taking part in a summer activity scheme.

Gameli, a pupil at St Mary's Church of England School in Barnet, was taken to Northwick Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

William was declared dead several days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital after doctors decided to switch off his life support machine.

The Crown Prosecution Service recommended no action should be taken against a police sergeant, two members of police staff and five civilian employees in relation to the deaths.