Takeaway owner to stand trial following CO death

Article date : 22/07/2010

The owner of a takeaway will stand trial for manslaughter in November, following the death of a young woman in the premises.

Chelsea Wright, 16, succumbed to the effects of carbon monoxide while at Erith Fried Chicken in Bexleyheath in March of last year.

An 18-year-old part-time employee, Tom Hoyne, was also found unconscious at the time.

The eatery's owner Amman Cheema, 34, of Earl Road, Gravesend, will stand trial for manslaughter later in the year.

It is believed that a heater in the shop was leaking deadly carbon monoxide fumes, resulting in the fatality.

Cheema will also be accused of grievous bodily harm, although he denies both charges, along with the allegation that he attempted to pervert the course of justice by asking Ms Hoyne to make a statement against the GBH charge.

Carbon monoxide can prove fatal when inhaled and is known to leak from faulty gas appliances such as boilers.

It is recommended that Britons have at least one boiler service every year carried out by a member of the Gas Safe Register to determine whether the device poses a risk.

Written by Tony Harrison

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