Aerosol bosses skip fireball death trial; Trial goes ahead without defendants.

Byline: BY CHLOE GRIFFITHS Daily Post Staff

BOSSES of a factory where a man was killed by a fireball have failed to turn up at court for the trial accusing them of negligence.

Christopher Knoop died in December, 2005, when flames ripped through Aintree-based North West Aerosols.

The company is accused of breaching two health and safety laws by failing to protect its employees and is facing a two day trial.

But yesterday the firm's directors failed to turn up at Liverpool Crown Court for the first day of the hearing. Nobody from the firm, which is now in the hands of liquidators, has appeared at any previous hearings.

Yesterday, relatives of the blast victims protested at their absence.

Led by Mr Knoop's sister Christel Stewart, they showed their anger at what they claimed was attempts by bosses to avoid justice by marching with huge Families Against Corporate Killers (Fack) banners outside the court. Despite the company's absence, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) decided to press ahead with the trial.

Simon Parrington, prosecuting, told the jury the accident had been "both foreseeable and avoidable".

An investigation following the blaze revealed a host of electrical faults, an "unsafe system of work" and inadequate training of the firm's 90 employees.

As the blaze ripped through the factory, Mr Knoop and three fellow workers, Gary Brine, Kevin Armstrong and Graham Ryder, tried to flee. Former Merchant Navy man Mr Knoop, 50, who lived in Anfield, managed to take refuge in a small office, but died from his injuries.

The others crawled under conveyor belts and ripped off their clothing as they fled the Brookfield Drive factory.

A plea of not guilty was entered in the absence of the company.

The case continuous.

Campaign backers turn out in force

A VIGIL for Christopher Knoop was held yesterday outside Liverpool Crown Court.

His sister, Christel Stewart, was there to pay tribute to the former employee of North West Aerosols who died in December, 2005. The vigil was held by Fack (Families Against Corporate Killers).

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "We had a good turn-out and many people came along to support the campaign.

"We were there to support Christel and other people in her position. We are also astonished that companies can get away with not sending anybody to court hearings such as this."

CAPTION(S):

Christopher Knoop's sister, Christel Stewart, and son Mike Phillips, outside court Pictures: COLIN LANE/ clpdsk020608demo-5 The demonstration outside Liverpool Crown Court by 'Families Against Corporate Killers' Christopher Knoop