Boss acquitted after teenager's crush death in Aberdeen

Steven Anderson was said to have been left distressed

A plumbing boss has been acquitted on health and safety charges after a teenage apprentice was crushed to death in Aberdeen.

Sheriff Graeme Buchanan ruled that Steven Anderson had no case to answer at the city's sheriff court over the death of 18-year-old Michael Scott.

Mr Scott died after a pile of MDF sheets fell on him at APH Services at Aberdeen Harbour in December 2006.

Sheriff Buchanan said it was a truly tragic case.

Mr Anderson was reduced to tears after finding the teenage apprentice crushed to death at his yard, the trial earlier heard.

Mr Anderson, who found Mr Scott pinned against a wall, was said to be "distressed" in the aftermath.

The trial heard Mr Anderson called on another apprentice to help lift the boards off the victim, and phoned for help.

Mr Anderson's brother Craig went to the yard after hearing there had been an accident.

'Absolutely devastated'

He said: "When I got there, the paramedics were already there. There was that many people there so I went back to the lane and phoned Michael's mother.

"I just waited to see what his condition was and after that went up to the hospital with Steve."

Teenager Michael Scott died at Aberdeen Harbour in 2006

Depute fiscal Helen Knipe asked him: "What was Mr Anderson like at that time?"

He said: "He was in tears and he was distressed."

The engineer described Mr Scott as a very keen young man who was always willing to help out at the business.

He said: "He had been off ill Monday and Tuesday prior to that morning.

"With him being off we didn't think he was going to be there on Wednesday. There were no tradesman waiting for him because he wasn't expected to be there."

A post-mortem examination later determined the cause of death as traumatic asphyxia.

His parents said in a statement at the time of his death: "We are all absolutely devastated by the loss of our wonderful son and brother Michael in this tragic unexpected way."