A court has heard the Haut du Mont explosion nearly four years ago, which killed ten people, 'was an incident waiting to happen.'
The prosecution has opened its case in the trial of three former gas workers, and Island Energy, over the deaths in December 2022.
Raymond Brown, Louise de Almeida, Romeu de Almeida, Sylvia Ellis, Derek Ellis, Kenneth Ralph, Jane Ralph, Peter Bowler, William Marsden, and Kathleen McGinness lost their lives after the fatal blast in the early hours of 10 December 2022.
Neil Armstrong (58), Lee Ward (59), and John Wright (60) who were employees of the gas supplier at the time, are charged with ten counts of gross negligence manslaughter.
Island Energy has pleaded not guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety Law.
Today (8 September), the jury heard that the explosion was caused by gas that had escaped from an open valve to the rear of the block that collapsed, which was then ignited by a spark just before 4am.
The jury has been asked to consider how the gas came to escape, and who is responsible for that gas escaping.
Crown Advocate Simon Thomas, prosecuting, said the chain of events that resulted in the explosion were caused by work carried out on gas pipes that supplied Haut Du Mont on the previous day - 9 December 2022.
Advocate Thomas said:
"That work was carried out not just carelessly, but exceptionally badly. So badly that each can properly be said to be guilty of manslaughter'.
"The prosecution also says that quite separately from the exceptionally poor work of the first three defendants (Armstrong, Ward and Wright) the way Island Energy ran its operations failed to ensure the Health and Safety of both members of the public and its employees. The company did not comply with accepted safety standards."
"Such was the failure that the explosion was an incident waiting to happen."
The trial is scheduled to last for up to 12 weeks.
All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The trial continues.
Jersey flights impacted by UK air traffic control issue
Engine fault sees private jet diverted to Guernsey Airport
Travel issues ahead of Channel Islands Pride
St Helier RNLI to make 'Savings Lives At Sea' TV debut
Part-time pedestrian crossing permanent during school terms
Plémont gets a pond!
Temporary fuel duty cut proposition withdrawn
Haut du Mont trial begins
