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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
Corfu hotel boss defends conduct
The hotel manager facing manslaughter charges over the deaths of two UK children in Corfu from carbon monoxide poisoning says he did nothing wrong. George Chrysikopoulos said he had no prior knowledge that anything was wrong in the bungalow where Christianne, seven, and Robert Shepherd, six, died. The boiler under police investigation was inspected in April, he said. The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. Mr Chrysikopoulos, speaking through his assistant, said the whole complex at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia was inspected for safety in April before the tourist season began. It should not have happened, but it did, but it does not mean resorts in Corfu are not safe Kostas Dendrinos Corfu's Association of Hotel Managers "We had no information at any time that would point to any problem with this bungalow, any other or the hotel prior to this tragic incident," he said. "Experts have been appointed by the hotel from the National Technical University of Athens. "Those experts will examine the installation of the bungalow as soon as the police release it. We cannot start with our investigation until that happens." The bungalow B112 where the family stayed was renovated seven years ago and its boiler replaced two years ago, with annual inspections since, he said. The last inspection took place in April by an independent expert. 'Inconsolable' Responding to reports that two people who stayed in the bungalow in the week before the tragedy had also fallen ill, he said two doctors found they were suffering gastroenteritis. The children's father, Neil Shepherd, 38, who was found alongside them in the hotel room, has become fully conscious for the first time, according to hospital staff. His partner Ruth Beatson, 27, who was also poisoned, has been taken out of intensive care. She has been told by her mother about the deaths of the children but it is unclear whether Mr Shepherd has been informed. Prayers have been said for Christianne and Robert at services in Corfu and their home in West Yorkshire. Services took place at Wakefield Cathedral, West Yorkshire, and the Anglican Holy Trinity Church in Corfu. Father Clifford Owen told ex-pat worshippers in Corfu the thoughts of the island's residents were with the classmates of the two dead children, who on Monday return after the half term holiday without their friends. Christianne and Robert's mother, Sharon Wood, 35, had lived with the children in Horbury. Mrs Wood has visited the hotel where her children died and was said to be inconsolable. Panic She made a second visit to the mortuary on Sunday with her husband Paul, where she spent about 40 minutes inside the building. A pathologist said carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death and the investigation is focusing on the room's gas boiler and air-conditioning. Tour operator Thomas Cook said the latest audit of the hotel showed "the property met all of the Federation of Tour Operators' requirements". The BBC's Malcolm Brabant said the children's deaths have sent a wave of shock and panic through the Greek holiday industry. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...pe/6097068.stm Published: 2006/10/29 17:43:32 GMT |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
Two taken ill in Corfu death room By Maggie Dolan BBC News Website A couple who previously stayed in the Corfu hotel room in which two children died from carbon monoxide poisoning also fell ill during their holiday. Kathy Pallant and her husband Andrew stayed in bungalow 112 at the Corcyra Palace Hotel four days before siblings Christianne and Robert Shepherd died. Christianne, seven, and Robert, six, were found dead on 26 October lying next to their father and his partner. Mr and Mrs Pallant, from Bucks, were treated for suspected gastroenteritis. 'Lucky to be alive' Carbon monoxide poisoning can be mistaken for gastroenteritis. The hotel had said that no other guests fell ill. My husband's a big man, and it took an awful lot of his strength for him to crawl round and get to the telephone for help Kathy Pallant Mrs Pallant who lives near Leighton Buzzard told BBC News: "We feel very, very lucky to be alive. We feel dreadful about this family. It must not be hushed up. "There must be other people who were taken ill. There were other people in there. We didn't see anything, but then did anyone see us being taken away by ambulance? I can't remember, I wasn't on this planet. "My husband's a big man, and it took an awful lot of his strength for him to crawl round and get to the telephone for help." Tour operator First Choice confirmed from the incident report logged by the on-site representative at the hotel that a Mr and Mrs Pallant were in the same room as Neil Shepherd, 38, his children Christianne and Robert and his partner Ruth Beatson, 27. Mr Shepherd and Ms Beatson were found unconscious in the room. They are both in a serious condition but are recovering. In a statement the operator said: "Mr and Mrs Pallant were staying in room 112 last week between 16 and 23 October. "They were both taken ill with suspected gastroenteritis and were hospitalised. They were discharged the following day. They then travelled home on their original return flight." Symptoms non-specific The clinic in which the couple received treatment stated that the tests undertaken showed nothing untoward. Toxicology expert Professor Alistair Hay said that the difficulty is that the symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning are non-specific. "You have headaches, you have aches and pains, you may feel very tired, and of course this could be attributed to a virus," he said. The investigation into the children's deaths is centred around a gas boiler adjacent to the room and experts are now carrying out an examination on that, as well as air conditioning and water heater systems. Scotland Yard detectives permanently stationed in Athens are working on the investigation alongside their Greek colleagues. Greek police said they are planning to charge the owner of a hotel in Corfu, the maintenance manager and the air conditioning engineer with negligent manslaughter. Hotel manager George Chrysikopoulos refused to comment on the cause of the children's deaths because of concerns over prejudicing the police investigation. But in a statement, read in Greek and translated by an assistant, he said: "The hotel management are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life and extend their most deepest condolences and sympathy to the family for their great loss at this time. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...nd/6094358.stm Published: 2006/10/29 14:46:11 GMT © BBC MMVI |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
"King Seanie, MASTER of all grik slaves" wrote in message ups.com... Corfu hotel boss defends conduct The hotel manager facing manslaughter charges over the deaths of two UK children in Corfu from carbon monoxide poisoning says he did nothing wrong. George Chrysikopoulos said he had no prior knowledge that anything was wrong in the bungalow where Christianne, seven, and Robert Shepherd, six, died. The boiler under police investigation was inspected in April, he said. The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. This is the sort of nonsence that used to happen in the UK. Each blames the other and no-one is convicted. Now the rules in the UK have been changed so the responsibility is farely and squarely with the owner. Unless the other parties have done something stupid, like falsified the test certificate or similar, they stand no chance of geting put in the dock, which IMHO is how it should be. tim |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
"tim(yet another new home)" wrote in message ... The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. This is the sort of nonsence that used to happen in the UK. Each blames the other and no-one is convicted. Now the rules in the UK have been changed so the responsibility is farely and squarely with the owner. Unless the other parties have done something stupid, like falsified the test certificate or similar, they stand no chance of geting put in the dock, which IMHO is how it should be. Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? -- Andy |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:54:57 -0000, "Andy Pandy"
wrote: "tim(yet another new home)" wrote in message ... The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. This is the sort of nonsence that used to happen in the UK. Each blames the other and no-one is convicted. Now the rules in the UK have been changed so the responsibility is farely and squarely with the owner. Unless the other parties have done something stupid, like falsified the test certificate or similar, they stand no chance of geting put in the dock, which IMHO is how it should be. Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? And if the inspection or maintenance that was carried out was poorly or inadequately performed - why is the owner liable and not the inspector or technician? Cheers, Alan, Australia -- http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/ latest: Florence http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
"Alan S" wrote in message
... On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:54:57 -0000, "Andy Pandy" wrote: "tim(yet another new home)" wrote in message ... The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. This is the sort of nonsence that used to happen in the UK. Each blames the other and no-one is convicted. Now the rules in the UK have been changed so the responsibility is farely and squarely with the owner. Unless the other parties have done something stupid, like falsified the test certificate or similar, they stand no chance of geting put in the dock, which IMHO is how it should be. Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? And if the inspection or maintenance that was carried out was poorly or inadequately performed - why is the owner liable and not the inspector or technician? Cheers, Alan, Australia In the US it is unofficially called the "principle of the deep pockets." The lawyer knows that the inspector and technician have little money so the lawsuit names the company that sent the technician, and the manager, and the owner, and the company that manages the chain, as well as the tour company that made the reservations. In other words, anyone who has any small relation to the act, but, more importantly, has the "deep pockets" to pay off. Cases are usually settled out of court, just before trial. US juries are notorious for awarding millions for a spilled cup of coffee. Maybe this principle applies here. -- http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/ latest: Florence http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
"Billzz" wrote in message ... "Alan S" wrote in message ... On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:54:57 -0000, "Andy Pandy" wrote: "tim(yet another new home)" wrote in message ... The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. This is the sort of nonsence that used to happen in the UK. Each blames the other and no-one is convicted. Now the rules in the UK have been changed so the responsibility is farely and squarely with the owner. Unless the other parties have done something stupid, like falsified the test certificate or similar, they stand no chance of geting put in the dock, which IMHO is how it should be. Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? And if the inspection or maintenance that was carried out was poorly or inadequately performed - why is the owner liable and not the inspector or technician? Cheers, Alan, Australia In the US it is unofficially called the "principle of the deep pockets." The lawyer knows that the inspector and technician have little money so the lawsuit names the company that sent the technician, and the manager, and the owner, and the company that manages the chain, as well as the tour company that made the reservations. In other words, anyone who has any small relation to the act, but, more importantly, has the "deep pockets" to pay off. Cases are usually settled out of court, just before trial. US juries are notorious for awarding millions for a spilled cup of coffee. Maybe this principle applies here. -- http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/ latest: Florence http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? Theoretically, the shareholders should lose value of their shares. But, at least in US corporations, the legal structure of the corporation places that final responsibilty in management -- the Board members who are elected by the shareholders. They are all insured in case of this. But was the hotel a corporation, or just a small business? If it is a small business, the owner is responsible, because he/she hired the manager to represent him/her. The buck stops here. Of course, I'm making comments based on US concepts that are probably useless in Greece, so I'll shut up now. And if the inspection or maintenance that was carried out was poorly or inadequately performed - why is the owner liable and not the inspector or technician? Cheers, Alan, Australia In the US it is unofficially called the "principle of the deep pockets." The lawyer knows that the inspector and technician have little money so the lawsuit names the company that sent the technician, and the manager, and the owner, and the company that manages the chain, as well as the tour company that made the reservations. In other words, anyone who has any small relation to the act, but, more importantly, has the "deep pockets" to pay off. Cases are usually settled out of court, just before trial. US juries are notorious for awarding millions for a spilled cup of coffee. Maybe this principle applies here. -- http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/ latest: Florence http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
"Andy Pandy" wrote in message ... "tim(yet another new home)" wrote in message ... The hotel manager, owner and two maintenance staff face up to five years in jail if convicted of manslaughter. This is the sort of nonsence that used to happen in the UK. Each blames the other and no-one is convicted. Now the rules in the UK have been changed so the responsibility is farely and squarely with the owner. Unless the other parties have done something stupid, like falsified the test certificate or similar, they stand no chance of geting put in the dock, which IMHO is how it should be. Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? I was thinking, working owner (which this person appears to be), not shareholders in a PLC tim |
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Greek Child Murderer tries to wriggle away from justice
"Sarah Banick" wrote in message . .. Why? If it was the manager's job to ensure the tests are carried out, and he didn't, then why is the owner responsible? If I own shares in a company that kills someone due to negligent management, do I and the other shareholders get prosecuted rather than the company's management? Theoretically, the shareholders should lose value of their shares. Only if the company goes bust, and anyway that's not prosecution, that's just losing an investment. But, at least in US corporations, the legal structure of the corporation places that final responsibilty in management -- the Board members who are elected by the shareholders. They are all insured in case of this. We're talking about criminal responsibility. How can you insure against getting set to prison for manslaughter? But was the hotel a corporation, or just a small business? If it is a small business, the owner is responsible, because he/she hired the manager to represent him/her. The buck stops here. Of course, I'm making comments based on US concepts that are probably useless in Greece, so I'll shut up now. Really? So if you hire someone who does something stupid, illegal, or negligent, you are responsible? Even if there is no way you could have known or suspected they were incompetant or crooked? -- Andy |
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