Atherstone fire managers not guilty of manslaughter

By Steve Hayes 30/05 Updated: 05/06 15:00

Firefighters at the scene of the Atherstone tragedy. (s)

FIREFIGHTERS Adrian Ashley and Timothy Woodward have been acquitted of manslaughter in connection with the Atherstone warehouse blaze.

A jury found the men not guilty today (Wednesday) after a trial which lasted around six weeks.

Paul Simmons, another watch manager, had already been acquitted last week on the direction of the judge.

Ashley Stephens, 20, John Averis, 27, and Darren Yates-Badley, 24, died in the 2007 fire. Rugby based fire fighter Ian Reid, 44, died later in hospital.

The three Warwickshire firefighters had been accused of manslaughter by gross negligence.

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