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Jail for gas engineer found guilty of the manslaughter of partner and her daughter from CO poisoning (23 November 2015)

Date: 23/11/2015
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Jail for gas engineer found guilty of the manslaughter of partner and her daughter from CO poisoning

A registered gas fitter has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of the manslaughter of his partner and her daughter on board his houseboat, who died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning as the result of a poorly fitted generator.

Kelly Webster and her daughter Lauren Thornton were found dead during the Easter weekend of 1 April 2013, in the sleeping compartment on board Matthew Eteson's boat on Lake Windermere.

The cause of death was poisoning by carbon monoxide from the exhaust system of the generator, which Eteson had installed on the boat.

The court heard that Eteson was a registered and experienced Gas Safe engineer.

Shortly before the Easter weekend, he made and installed an exhaust system for the generator – and used the generator to power a fan heater in the passenger quarters, while Kelly, Lauren and Mr Eteson slept.

The exhaust system was poorly designed and poorly constructed, using unsuitable materials, the court heard. The generator was not secured or anchored to the floor – and joints in the exhaust pipework were poorly fabricated.

The temperature generated caused the pipework to fail, as soft soldered joints melted – and as a result, the exhaust gases containing carbon monoxide were discharged into the boat.

In addition to the very poor standard of work, Eteson had neglected to test the system under the circumstances and electrical load for which he intended to use it.

The court was told that he also knew that the carbon monoxide detectors on the boat had been disabled.

Preston Crown Court found him guilty of the manslaughter Kelly Webster and her daughter Lauren Thornton and sentenced him to two years in jail.

After sentencing, Senior Crown Prosecutor from CPS North West Complex Casework Unit, Joanna White, said:

“As a registered gas fitter, Matthew Eteston knew the dangers of carbon monoxide – and knew the risk of death if the pipework designed to evacuate the exhaust gases failed.

“Tragically, the poor design and construction of the work he carried out on the exhaust system directly led to the deaths of Kelly Webster and Lauren Thornton.

“This case should act as a warning about the terrible consequences of such a poor standard of work in the installation of appliances.

“Although Matthew Eteson did not intend to cause their deaths, the jury – who heard all the evidence – found that Kelly and Lauren lost their lives because of his gross negligence and the obvious dangers that he created.

“They therefore found him criminally responsible for their deaths.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Kelly and Lauren's families and friends at this time, who have been left devastated by their deaths.”

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