This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8162082.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gas fitter guilty of OAPs' deaths Gas fitter guilty of OAPs' deaths
(about 1 hour later)
A gas fitter has been found guilty of two counts of manslaughter after two people died of carbon monoxide poisoning. A gas fitter has been told he faces jail after being found guilty of two counts of manslaughter over two people who died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Margaret Powell, 72, and her friend Thomas Gwyn Morgan, 74, were found dead in her home in Brecon, Powys, in 2006. Margaret Powell, 72, who was known as Eileen, and her friend Thomas Gwyn Morgan, 74, were found dead in her home in Brecon, Powys, in 2006.
The court heard Peter Tongue, 60, from Llanspyddid, near Brecon, Powys, had failed to fix a heating system. Cardiff Crown Court heard Peter Tongue, 60, from Llanspyddid, near Brecon, had not fixed a heating system properly.
He had also denied six health and safety charges at Cardiff Crown Court but was found guilty by a jury. He was also found guilty of six health and safety charges.
The jury had gone out on Wednesday and delivered a guilty verdict on all charges on Thursday.The jury had gone out on Wednesday and delivered a guilty verdict on all charges on Thursday.
Mr Justice Lloyd Jones told Tongue, a father-of-three, a jail term was "inevitable", but released him on bail until he is sentenced on 30 July.
The court had heard that Tongue serviced a gas-fired warm air central heating system days before the couple died after it had broken down.The court had heard that Tongue serviced a gas-fired warm air central heating system days before the couple died after it had broken down.
Up until her death, our mother was in excellent health Mrs Powell's daughters
The carbon monoxide poisoning the couple died from was traced back back to the system.The carbon monoxide poisoning the couple died from was traced back back to the system.
The prosecution claimed that Tongue did not spot that the heater was full of soot leading to the release of carbon monoxide.The prosecution claimed that Tongue did not spot that the heater was full of soot leading to the release of carbon monoxide.
Registration lapsed
When it was later cleaned and relit, the appliance worked properly and no longer emitted lethal levels of the gas, the prosecution told the court.When it was later cleaned and relit, the appliance worked properly and no longer emitted lethal levels of the gas, the prosecution told the court.
Peter Davies, prosecuting, claimed Tongue ignored clear and obvious signs of trouble and did a job he was not competent to do.Peter Davies, prosecuting, claimed Tongue ignored clear and obvious signs of trouble and did a job he was not competent to do.
Thomas Gwyn Morgan and Margaret Powell were found dead in her home
He also told the court that while Tongue was accredited at the time with the gas safety organisation, Corgi, his registration allowing him to work on ducted warm air systems had lapsed in 2003 - three years before the deaths.He also told the court that while Tongue was accredited at the time with the gas safety organisation, Corgi, his registration allowing him to work on ducted warm air systems had lapsed in 2003 - three years before the deaths.
Thomas Gwyn Morgan and Margaret Powell were found dead in her home
Tongue's defence team have claimed the soot in the system built up in the days after he serviced it, for which he was paid £60 by Mrs Powell.Tongue's defence team have claimed the soot in the system built up in the days after he serviced it, for which he was paid £60 by Mrs Powell.
He demonstrated to the jury how he cleaned out the heater in question after finding soot inside and said he was satisfied he had cleared any blockages.He demonstrated to the jury how he cleaned out the heater in question after finding soot inside and said he was satisfied he had cleared any blockages.
He insisted that the heater had been cleaned and was working as it should when he left Mrs Powell's home.He insisted that the heater had been cleaned and was working as it should when he left Mrs Powell's home.
He didn't make simple errors that all humans make, he made gross errors in his work Det Insp Ian Andrews
Tongue also explained that he thought his Corgi registration covered this type of heating system, and he would not have worked on it otherwise.Tongue also explained that he thought his Corgi registration covered this type of heating system, and he would not have worked on it otherwise.
Before the jury retired to consider the charges, the judge, Mr Justice D Lloyd Jones, told them that in order to find Mr Tongue guilty, they had to satisfy themselves of certain questions. The court heard Mrs Powell had been an active woman who still worked part time as a receptionist at an optician's.
Firstly, that he had owed the two friends a duty of care which he had breached and that it had caused their deaths. 'Justice'
They also had to be sure that it was such gross negligence to amount to manslaughter. Mr Morgan lived with his son in Cwmavon, Port Talbot, but regularly visited Mrs Powell, a widow he had been friends with for six years.
Speaking about the verdict outside court, Mr Morgan's brother Ceredig said: "It's been a long time coming, nearly three years, and I'm happy with the decision in court today.
"It's justice for the two of them and will help us get on with our lives.
"It's been very difficult, we haven't been able to mourn them properly because we knew this was hanging over our heads all the time."
A statement from Mrs Powell's two daughters said their mother's death had "left a void in our lives which is impossible to fill".
"We are grateful for the verdict. Up until her death, our mother was in excellent health," they said.
"It is clear that, had the gas boiler been repaired properly, the tragic events of December 2006 would not have occurred.
"Irrespective of the verdict we all share the same feeling of loss since our mother was tragically and suddenly taken from us."
Det Insp Ian Andrews, of Dyfed-Powys Police, who led the investigation, said he believed "justice had been done".
"The issue here was of a gas engineer who worked outside his competencies. He didn't make simple errors that all humans make, he made gross errors in his work."