Trial over 39 lorry deaths delayed after juror is tested for Covid-19

The trial over the death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a lorry in Essex has been delayed while a juror awaits the results of a coronavirus test.

FOUR men are standing trial at the Old Bailey after the bodies were discovered at an industrial estate in Grays in October 2019.

Lorry driver Eamonn Harrison, 23 and alleged organiser Gheorghe Nica, 49, are among the defendants and are accused of 39 counts of manslaughter.

But Mr Justice Sweeney today, çMonday, November, announced the trial would be delayed as a member of the jury is waiting for the result of a COVID-19 test, reports Sky News.

He said the female juror “has been tracked and traced and has taken a test but we don’t yet have the result of the test”:

The woman’s sister reportedly tested positive on Saturday, October 31, and the two have had contact twice in the last week.

Mr Justice Sweeney advised the rest of the jurors to consider isolating until the result of the juror’s Covid-19 test is known.

The trial opened on October 7 and was initially due to last six weeks.

Harrison of Co Down and Nica from Basildon deny manslaughter.

Harrison also denies conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, along with Valentin Calota, 37, and Christopher Kennedy, 24, who face the same charge.

Nica has admitted the conspiracy charge.


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Written by

Tara Rippin

Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region.
She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990.
Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.

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