Boys died 'while Pc distracted'

Gameli Akuklu was 14 when he drowned at the pool in Hendon

Two boys drowned in a police swimming pool when the constable acting as a lifeguard allowed himself to be distracted, a court has heard.

William Kadama and Gameli Akuklu, both 14 and from Colindale, north-west London, were found unconscious in the pool after nearly 20 minutes.

Pc Daniel Phillips had been helping another boy with a cut knee.

Mr Phillips, 43, denies two charges of manslaughter and one of failing to ensure the safety of children.

Rescue attempt

Richard Latham, QC, prosecuting, said that as Mr Phillips waited with the hurt boy for an ambulance, other youths in the pool at the Metropolitan Police training school in Hendon, north London, saw the two boys at the bottom,

The Old Bailey heard how Mr Phillips had then jumped in to the water to try to rescue the boys, but was unable to save them.

The 30 metre pool at the police college has been closed since the incident in July 2002, when children from two local summer play schemes had been using it.

It was quite a long period of time when he was either wholly or partially distracted Prosecutor Richard Latham

Gameli was pronounced dead at Northwick Park Hospital. William was put on a ventilator, but died six days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mr Phillips was described as a qualified lifeguard who had also taught other lifeguards and should have realised the dangers.

Mr Latham said 29 children from the two Barnet play schemes had arrived at the pool with social workers, but Mr Phillips was the only lifeguard on duty at the time.

He added: "It was quite a long period of time when he was either wholly or partially distracted and no longer concentrating on the essential matter of being a lifeguard."

Mr Latham said police were "open to criticism" for failing to have an emergency action plan.

He said that Mr Phillips was acting with the "best of intentions" but had been criminally negligent.

The case continues.