Date fixed for manslaughter trial after death of worker at Calderdale-based garden landscaping supplies firm

Married father-of-two Andrew Tibbott, 48, died in April 2017 while working for Deco-Pak Limited which has premises on Halifax Road, Hipperholme.

On the Health and Safety Executive’s list of workplace fatalities for 2017/18 it indicated that Mr Tibbott died in Halifax after being “struck by an object”.

Rodney Slater, 60, of Wellbank View, Rochdale, and fellow director Michael Hall, 63, of Hullen Edge Lane, Elland, made their first court appearance before Bradford magistrates last month and today their case was listed for a plea and case management hearing before a judge at the city’s crown court.

Both men formally entered their not guilty pleas when the clerk of the court put the manslaughter charge to them and counsel for the firm also pleaded not guilty to an allegation of corporate manslaughter.

During a 20-minute hearing, which was attended by members of Mr Tibbott’s family, Judge Richard Mansell QC was told that the trial was expected to last up to five weeks.

The trial was fixed to start on November 1 next year and the judge also fixed a “trial readiness” hearing to take place on October 1, 2021.

Both defendants were granted unconditional bail until the trial.