A jury is hearing a case about a father whose negligence led to his son’s tragic death. The incident occurred when the father accidentally ran over his three-year-old son with a farm vehicle.
The incident happened on July 16, 2022, at their farm. Neil was using a telehandler to move wood chippings when he accidentally reversed over Albie. The little boy was playing in the garden with their dogs at the time.
Albie suffered severe head injuries and sadly passed away at the hospital later that day. The court heard that Neil had left his son playing alone in a yard next to the house.
While Neil had experience with the machine, he wasn’t trained to operate it safely. The telehandler was also in poor condition, with a missing mirror and another that was too dirty to use.
The prosecution argues that Neil’s negligence created a serious risk of death. They claim he failed to take proper care of his son, which is a parent’s primary duty.
In his defense, Neil’s lawyer said it was a tragic accident. He argued that Neil was always assessing risks and didn’t intend to harm Albie.
The prosecution emphasized that farms can be dangerous, especially for young children. They pointed out that three-year-olds are unpredictable and need extra care.
Neil told police that Albie understood the boundaries of where he could play. But the prosecutor questioned how a child could learn those boundaries without proper guidance.
The court also heard about a video showing Neil’s partner in a dangerous position while he operated the telehandler. A warning letter from the Health and Safety Executive was sent to Neil about potential dangers.
Neil’s lawyer described the video as foolish but insisted that his client didn’t need to read safety guidelines to know how to protect his son.
Neil denies gross negligence manslaughter but has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge related to health and safety violations. The jury will decide if this was a tragic accident or a case of gross negligence.
