Garden nursery charged with corporate manslaughter over worker's death

The Crown Prosecution Service has charged a Norfolk company with corporate manslaughter after the death of a worker at a garden nursery.

Grzegorz Krystian Pieton was electrocuted at his place of work - Belmont Nursery in Terrington St Clement - on 15 July 2010 when the metal hydraulic lift trailer he was towing touched an overhead power line.

The nursery operator, King's Lynn-based PS & JE Ward Ltd, will appear at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court on 23 November.

The company also faces a charge of failing to ensure the safety of employees, contrary to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The company issued a statement through its solicitors which said it had recently been informed of the decision. It added: "Belmont Nursery has worked closely with police, the HSE and other agencies investigating the incident at the nursery.

"As formal legal proceedings are now under way it would be inappropriate for us to comment on any aspect of the case at this time.

"Everyone at Belmont Nursery remains profoundly saddened by the death of Mr Pieton, and his family have been, and are constantly, in our thoughts".