UK - 39 bodies found in lorry container, Essex, 23 Oct 2019 #2

[HayLouise]

12 December 2019

Mr Harrison's barrister Siobhan Stack SC said there was nothing in the extradition warrant to point to manslaughter because of negligence or a dangerous act on his part.

She added there was nothing to say there were people on the truck while he was in control of it or that he knew there were people in it.

Ms Stack said there is nothing to say that the 39 died in the UK.

She added that the time, place and cause of death are not yet known saying there is some evidence some were still alive when entering the UK.

There's not enough information to return him to face a manslaughter charge, she continued.

'Nothing to say lorry driver put victims on truck'

 

[HayLouise]

More:

The court also heard that he signed the shipping notice for the container which was later found with the 39 bodies inside.

Lawyers for Eamonn Harrison raised the question as to why if his alleged offences occurred in Belgium the UK was seeking his extradition.

[...]

Judge Donald Binchy gave both sides until Thursday to provide additional information.

The High Court in Dublin previously heard that Mr Harrison was "a man of modest means".

'Nothing to say lorry driver put victims on truck'

 

[HayLouise]

12 December 2019:

At a previous hearing, his lawyers raised concerns about the lack of detail in the warrant for his arrest.

Further clarity was provided today, but his lawyer has raised concerns about the source of that detail and what she claims are its shortcomings.

The information was provided by the Crown Prosecution Service. She claims it ought to have been the authority that issued the warrant.

Essex lorry deaths: Lawyer claims insufficient information to extradite Irish man to UK

 

[HayLouise]

More:

She also submitted that it falls short of what is required because there is nothing to say what dangerous act he is alleged to have committed and no mention of any allegation that he put the victims in the container or even knew they were in it.

Essex lorry deaths: Lawyer claims insufficient information to extradite Irish man to UK

 

[HayLouise]

12 December 2019

Essex police have still to issue an European Arrest warrant for two brothers wanted in connection with the deaths of 39 people found in a refrigerated lorry, it has been reported.

[...]

The Guardian reports police have yet to issue paperwork which would allow the Garda Siochana to arrest the pair.

Essex police told the paper it was "working with partners to progress the case against these men".

Essex lorry deaths: Report police still to apply for arrest warrant - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

More:

In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, Essex Police said: "Two men remain as wanted by the force. Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, both from Armagh in Northern Ireland. Essex Police is working with partners to progress the case against these men.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call our Major Crime Team on 101 or contact Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or submit information through their website crimestoppers-uk.org."

Essex lorry deaths: Report police still to apply for arrest warrant - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Lawyers for County Down Truck driver Eamon Harrison wanted in the UK to face trial over the discovery of the bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals in Essex have argued that he should be surrendered because the CPS does not know the time,place or cause of their deaths#VMnews

Sarah O'Connor on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

The extradition hearing of a County Down lorry driver wanted over the Essex lorry deaths was back at the High Court in Dublin today. Our Dublin correspondent was at the court.

(Video)

BBC Newsline - The extradition hearing of a County Down... | Facebook

 

[HayLouise]

Per video linked above hearing will resume tomorrow 11am.

 

[CaptainNancy]

“Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call our Major Crime Team on 101 or contact Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or submit information through their website crimestoppers-uk.org."”

This is beyond ludicrous. Shall we all call Crimestoppers and let them in on the secret that he is posing with his wife for a puff piece on her salon and living the life of Riley near Swans Cross?

 

[Sleeper75]

What a horrible way to go!

 

[Deleted member 254730]

Harrison will be out by Christmas, due to the CPS's cockup.

 

[CaptainNancy]

Lorry driver linked to 39 deaths, Irish court told

"The barrister said what was alleged was that Mr Harrison and his co-conspirators knew there were people in the container because of a UK-based conspiracy that began in 2018.

"How can sealing 39 people in the back of a container and leaving them there for a nine-hour sailing not be a dangerous act?" he asked.

He added that Mr Harrison got rid of his mobile phone after the discovery of the 39 bodies, delayed his journey home and did not contact law enforcement agencies."

 

[CaptainNancy]

Lorry driver denies being involved in 'human trafficking plot' that killed 39 migrants | Daily Mail Online

"Judge Andrew Edis set a trial date for Robinson on October 5. He asked for further evidence to be served by February 3 and a management hearing will take place on March 16. He said: 'It is a well known fact that other people are being investigated.'
Addressing Robinson, he added: 'Mr Robinson, as being concluded the next hearing will be March 16 and the trial will start on October 5.

'I am going to go on to deal with the question of Kennedy's bail application which does not concern you.'

 

[Sarahlou]

Thanks for all the updates!

 

[HayLouise]

13 December 2019:

Christopher Kennedy, 23, appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey on Friday morning surrounded by four guards.

He pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit human trafficking offences between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019 by arranging or facilitating the travel of other people with a view to exploitation. He also denied conspiring to assist unlawful immigration over the same period.

Essex lorry deaths: driver denies human trafficking charges

Lorry driver denies human trafficking after 39 people die in lorry

Co Armagh lorry driver Christopher Kennedy denies being involved in alleged human trafficking plot

Man denies charges linked to refrigerated lorry deaths

Co Armagh lorry driver Christopher Kennedy denies being involved in alleged human trafficking plot

 

[HayLouise]

HGV driver denies being involved in deaths of 39 people found in a refrigerated HGV in #Essex in Oct. Christopher Kennedy, 23 of C.Armagh pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit human trafficking offences & assisting unlawful immigration. He's face trial next year #HeartNews



Heart News East on Twitter

 

[CaptainNancy]

Warning; distressing details.
Phones of migrants found dead in Essex trailer suggest some were alive entering UK

Recordings found on mobile phones belonging to 39 migrants found dead in a refrigerated trailer in Essex in October, suggest “at least some” of them may have been alive after entering UK territorial waters, the High Court in Dublin has been told.

British authorities are seeking the surrender of Eamon Harrison (22) from Mayobridge, Co Down, to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

It is alleged that Mr Harrison had a role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in an industrial park in Grays, Essex on October 23 last.

He is alleged to have delivered the trailer to a Belgian port before it’s onward journey to Britain, where it was collected from the Port of Purfleet, Essex by Maurice Robinson (25), from Craigavon, Co Armagh, who was arrested by Essex police at the scene.

Mr Harrison, a dual Irish-British citizen, was subsequently arrested in Ireland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant by detectives from the Garda’s extradition unit and is fighting his proposed extradition to the UK through the Irish High Court. .....
....
Mobile phones
Counsel for Mr Harrison, Siobhán Stack SC, told the High Court on Thursday that the Crown Prosecution Service had made a “global statement” that the exact cause and place of death of the 39 migrants was unknown. But it seemed “at least some” of the deceased were still alive upon entry into UK territorial waters.”

Followed by more detail.

 

[CaptainNancy]

A driver on TruckNet, lorry drivers forum, claims that it is ‘hearsay’ amongst truckers that EH missed the boat that the trailer was due to be on, so the people were in the lorry for extended time. This would match the early reports in the press that MR was parked at the industrial park up to 12 hours before he collected the trailer.

 

[CaptainNancy]

Any news a to whether bail was extended for Thomas and Joanna Maher and Stansted Man?