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Two British holiday reps went on trial in a Greek court today over the deaths of two children killed by a gas leak at their hotel.
Richard Carson, 27, and Nicola Gibson, 25, were charged with the manslaughter of Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her six-year-old brother Robert, after they died of carbon monoxide poisoning while on a family holiday in Corfu.
Their father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson both fell into a coma and were taken to hospital, but survived.
The two Thomas Cook employees are accused of causing manslaughter by negligence in relation to the children, and of causing bodily injury by negligence to Mr Shepherd and Ms Beatson. They have pleaded not guilty.
Ten Greeks, including staff from the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia, where the family, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was staying, are also on trial.
It is believed the tragedy in October 2006 was caused after carbon monoxide fumes leaked from a faulty boiler in a next-door room into the bungalow apartment the family had booked for a half-term break.
A chambermaid found the children's bodies. The couple only became aware the children had died in the bungalow when they came round from treatment for the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
During the trial, the jury will hear evidence on whether Miss Gibson and Mr Carson carried out the correct safety assessments at the apartment.
The children's mother Sharon Wood and her husband Paul joined Mr Shepherd and Ms Beatson this morning at Corfu Town Courthouse for the start of the trial.
It was originally due to start in June last year but was postponed at the request of three of the defendants.
The delay angered the children's family. At the time, their stepfather Mr Woods said: “We are all very disappointed we will have to wait a further six months for justice.
“Thomas Cook led us to believe they wouldn't request the case to be adjourned. But they continue to play legal games.
“They continue to play these games with the memory of our children Christi and Bobby. This is extremely disrespectful. We wish for the legal process to come to an end soon, doing justice to our children's memories so we can rebuild our lives.”
Thomas Cook insisted it was a court decision to delay the hearing until this month.
A spokeswoman said: “We have no desire to see the trial delayed more than is necessary. Out of the 10 other defendants, there were two requests for an adjournment.
“The lawyer for one of our defendants was summoned at short notice to appear at an appeal court and not able to be in Corfu.”
In the year following their deaths a memorial garden was opened in memory of the brother and sister, who were known as Bobby and Christianne, at Horbury Primary School, in Horbury, near Wakefield, as a tribute to the former pupils. Headteacher John Wright said: “The garden is a beautiful tribute to two children who added so much to the school.”
