MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR FACES MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Fatal fall through store rooflight lands company boss facing court trial

The head of a maintenance firm has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the death of an employee.

Shane Offer, aged 21, fell through a rooflight during work on a Roseby store in Bognor Regis during June 2009. The home furnishings chain Rosebys has since gone into administration.

Richard Janes MD of Southern Property Maintenance has now pleaded not guilty to the charge. He has been remanded on bail prior to the trial scheduled to start on 15 March 2011.