Hatfield trial begins

Five top rail executives went on trial at the Old Bailey today accused of the manslaughter of the four victims of the Hatfield train crash.

The tragedy was caused when a London to Leeds express was derailed at 115mph by a cracked section of rail in October 2000. Potential jurors were told that the

trial would take at least nine months and could last for up to a year. However the case is "an important one and I believe an interesting one", Mr Justice Mackay told the pool of 75 from which the final 12 will be selected to make up the jury.

The five executives - three from Railtrack-which later became Network Rail, and two from engineering giant Balfour Beatty - are the first rail executives to go on trial charged with manslaughter following a derailment.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charge. They also deny further charges under the Health and Safety Act. Balfour Beatty faces a corporate manslaughter charge and Network Rail faces health and safety charges.

The five men in the dock are: Balfour Beatty Rail Maintenance Limited's regional director Anthony Walker, 46, and civil engineer Nicholas Jeffries, 53; Railtrack London North East zone asset managers Alistair Cook, 50, and Sean Fugill, 50; and Railtrack LNE track engineer Keith Lea, 53.

The potential jurors were asked to complete a two-page questionnaire to assess their suitability and availability for the trial. The judge told them: "This case arises out of the Hatfield rail crash in which four men died and many more were injured.

"Three men who sit in the dock who were employed by Railtrack, the company which owned the track, are charged with manslaughter, as are the two men employed by Balfour Beatty, the company which had contracted with Railtrack to maintain and inspect the track.

"The indictment also alleges various offences under the Health and Safety legislation.

"Counsel tell me that they estimate it [the trial] will last at least nine months. Caution and experience lead me to believe it will last longer."

The judge said once the jury had been selected and sworn in the trial would be moved to a purpose-built court in Holborn. Despite the length of the trial, jury service is a public duty which every citizen is required to fulfil if requested, he warned. "It is not a matter of choice. There is no more important civic duty than this." Richard Lissack QC, prosecuting, is not expected to open the Crown's case until later this month.

Those who died in the disaster were: Steve Arthur, 46, from Pease Pottage, West Sussex; Peter Monkhouse, 50, of Headingley, Leeds; Leslie Gray,

43, of Tuxford, Nottingham, and Robert James Alcorn, 37, of Auckland, New Zealand.

The process of selecting the jury is expected to take at least two days.

The Health and Safety charges allege "a failure to take reasonable care" for the safety of passengers travelling on the line.

The case continues.