Trial opens over Jersey gas explosion that killed 10
Three gas workers and an energy firm boss face trial over a 2022 Jersey explosion that killed 10 people.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The trial has opened in Jersey's Royal Court over a gas explosion that killed 10 people in December 2022. Three gas workers are accused of gross negligence manslaughter, while the boss of the energy company involved faces health and safety charges. All have pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution told the jury that the explosion, which happened on 10 December, was caused by gas escaping from an open valve at the rear of a block of flats. The court heard that work on gas pipes the day before the blast was carried out exceptionally badly. The three defendants, who worked for Island Energy at the time, cut the gas pipes in the wrong place, which also cut the supply to a local venue. That venue flagged the problem to the company at midday, 16 hours before the incident.
Instead of stopping to investigate, the court heard that one defendant, Mr Armstrong, felt pressured to reinstate the gas because the venue was holding a function that evening. He then failed to ensure that equipment at the flats, which would have prevented gas escaping, was closed. A pressure test could have identified the problem, but the court heard it was not carried out, and Mr Armstrong ordered that the gas be reconnected.
As dawn broke on 10 December, several gas employees attended the scene. The court heard that several of them heard Mr Armstrong say the cause of the explosion was most likely his failure to ensure all the valves at the flats were closed. The trial continues tomorrow.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| All three defendants and the company pleaded not guilty. | |
| The explosion was caused by gas escaping from an open valve at the rear of the block. | |
| Work on gas pipes the day before the explosion was carried out exceptionally badly. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV Evening News focused on the prosecution's opening statement, detailing the sequence of failures leading up to the explosion. The report highlighted the pressure on one defendant, Mr Armstrong, and the missed opportunity to prevent the blast. It also noted the not guilty pleas from all defendants.
- “an incident waiting to happen”
- “felt pressured to reinstate the gas because the venue was holding a function that evening”
- “the cause of the explosion was most likely his failure to ensure all the valves at the flats were closed”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.