This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-52214839
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Essex lorry deaths: Driver Maurice Robinson admits manslaughter | Essex lorry deaths: Driver Maurice Robinson admits manslaughter |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Lorry driver Maurice Robinson has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter after the deaths of a group of Vietnamese migrants. | Lorry driver Maurice Robinson has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to 39 counts of manslaughter after the deaths of a group of Vietnamese migrants. |
| The 31 males and eight females were discovered in a refrigerated trailer on 23 October in Grays, Essex. | The 31 males and eight females were discovered in a refrigerated trailer on 23 October in Grays, Essex. |
| Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, County Armagh, previously admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. | Robinson, 25, of Craigavon, County Armagh, previously admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. |
| At the same Old Bailey hearing, co-defendant Gheorghe Nica, 43, denied 39 counts of manslaughter. | At the same Old Bailey hearing, co-defendant Gheorghe Nica, 43, denied 39 counts of manslaughter. |
| Both men appeared via video-link at the hearing, which was conducted virtually with most lawyers and court reporters attending by Skype. | Both men appeared via video-link at the hearing, which was conducted virtually with most lawyers and court reporters attending by Skype. |
| The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered at an industrial estate soon after the lorry arrived in the UK on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. | The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered at an industrial estate soon after the lorry arrived in the UK on a ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium. |
| Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. | Among the men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys. |
| In March, it was revealed they all died from asphyxia and hypothermia. | |
| Another three men charged with other offences in connection with the deaths also appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link. | Another three men charged with other offences in connection with the deaths also appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link. |
| Romanian national Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 27, of Hobart Road in Tilbury, Essex, denied a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. | Romanian national Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 27, of Hobart Road in Tilbury, Essex, denied a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. |
| Christopher Kennedy, 23, of Corkley Road in Darkley, County Armagh, has previously denied conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. | Christopher Kennedy, 23, of Corkley Road in Darkley, County Armagh, has previously denied conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. |
| Valentin Calota, 37, of Cossington Road in Birmingham, was not asked to enter a plea to the charge of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration. | Valentin Calota, 37, of Cossington Road in Birmingham, was not asked to enter a plea to the charge of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration. |
| Mr Nica, a British Romanian citizen of Mimosa Close in Langdon Hills, Essex, also denied one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019. | Mr Nica, a British Romanian citizen of Mimosa Close in Langdon Hills, Essex, also denied one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019. |
| Robinson also admitted one charge of transferring criminal property, but denied a charge of transferring criminal property. | Robinson also admitted one charge of transferring criminal property, but denied a charge of transferring criminal property. |
| Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones QC asked for three weeks to decide whether to proceed with a trial against Robinson on that charge. | Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones QC asked for three weeks to decide whether to proceed with a trial against Robinson on that charge. |
| The other defendants face a trial at the Old Bailey lasting up to eight weeks. It is scheduled to begin on 5 October. | The other defendants face a trial at the Old Bailey lasting up to eight weeks. It is scheduled to begin on 5 October. |