A Leicester company has appeared in court charged under the Corporate Manslaughter & Homicide Act after an employee was fatally injured.

The victim, a warehouse assistant, was hit by a delivery vehicle whilst trying to cross an access road behind his employer’s food store.

The company was accused of being responsible because pedestrians should not have been allowed in this area.

Fortunately, the company is fictitious and no one was fatally hurt because the court case was a mock trial staged by Brett and Randall. It took place in Leicester’s historic Guildhall to make directors of businesses more aware of the threat posed by the Act.

The trial, enacted by lawyers from Weightmans Solicitors, attracted 50 senior business people and the audience became the jury after in depth questioning and the examination of several exhibits including company risk assessments and a detailed map of the premises.

It was a very close call but the defendants were found not guilty, and B&R warns in a real-life case with a real-life jury, the outcome may have been very different.

B&R staged the event following the first prosecution under the Act earlier this year when Cotswold Geotechnical were prosecuted and fined £385,000 following the death of an employee who was killed when a trench in which he was working collapsed.

Chris Hutchins, a director at B&R, said: “We did not just want to organise another technical briefing and the mock trial was a great success. It was an interesting and entertaining way of getting over some important points to those attending and also explained how businesses may afford themselves some level of insurance protection.

“The mock trial was highly relevant to anyone running a business who is grappling with trying to keep up to date with changing legislation and understanding their responsibilities in an increasingly litigious society where almost everyone appears to understand their rights to blame and claim.”

A mock trial is being staged in Leicester’s historic Guildhall to make Directors of Businesses aware of threat posed by the Corporate Manslaughter & Homicide Act.

Brett and Randall is staging this event as the first prosecution under the act happened earlier this year when Cotswold Geotechnical were prosecuted and fined £385,000 following the death of an employee who was killed when a trench in which he was working collapsed.

Stephen Rann, an account executive at Brett and Randall, said: “We did not want to put on just another technical seminar so we decided to stage a mock trial as we believe it’s a more entertaining and interactive way of getting over some important points to Directors of businesses.”

Weightmans Solicitors, who have offices in Leicester, are joining forces with Brett and Randall in the staging of the mock trial, which will take place on the 14th July 2011.

Numbers will be limited but anyone interested in attending this free event, should please email info@brettandrandall.co.uk

A Leicester company has welcomed two fresh new faces after launching an apprenticeship scheme.

Kiya Jacobs and Cassandra Reeve have joined insurance broker Brett and Randall in apprentice positions and will be undertaking training throughout the firm.

The company decided to embark on an apprenticeship programme in conjunction with Leicester College in response to a shortage of qualified people in the insurance sector.

Chris Hutchins, a director at Brett and Randall, who started in the profession as a teenager himself, said: “The overall experience of working with Leicester College was extremely good, they were able to introduce to us some young people with great potential and we aim to take on more apprentices in future.

“There is a skills shortage out there when it comes to Insurance, and that is a problem for a growing business and we have therefore made a proactive decision to invest in growing our own and preparing for the future.”

Kiya, a Leicester College student, said: “I’m really pleased to be given this opportunity the training is good and already think it’s a great place to work.”

L-R: Cassandra Reeve, Kiya Jacobs, and Chris Hutchins