G Live Deaths: Trial Set for October – Civil Proceedings May Follow

Published on: 9 Aug, 2016
Updated on: 11 Aug, 2016

The G Live door that was at the centre of an investigation following the fatal incident in February 2013, when this photo was taken.

The criminal trial of a man charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, which led to the death of a member of the singing group Fisherman’s Friends and their tour manager at G Live in 2013, will be heard in October, more than three years after the fatalities.

In a Guildford Borough Council report dated July 28: “Update on G Live Accident” it is stated: “The owner of the company which supplied the shutter involved in the Accident has been charged with two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence; and the company has also been charged with a health and safety offence.

“Not Guilty pleas were entered at Guildford Crown Court in May. A pre-trial review has been set for 23 September, with the trial set for October 4th.”

David Naylor, 56, of Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, Shropshire was charged with the offences last November (2015).

The council report states: “The Accident occurred at G Live Theatre on 9 February 2013. It resulted in fatal injuries when a horizontal shutter in the loading area suddenly gave way leading to the subsequent death of two people.”

The website of the Port Isaac’s based Fisherman’s Friends singing group in 2013.

Singer Trevor Grills, 54, and tour manager Paul McMullen, 44 died as a result of the incident.

In an update on civil legal proceedings relating to the same incident the report states: “Weightmans, the solicitors appointed by the Council’s insurers, advise that: ‘The claims are brought by their families against a number of potential defendants involved in the theatre and its operation, of which one of them is Guildford Borough Council. Court proceedings were issued in February 2016, as limitation was due to expire.

‘Court proceedings have been issued against all potential defendants including Guildford Borough Council, although proceedings have not yet been served on any of the defendants. This is because a criminal trial is due to take place in September following charges of gross negligence manslaughter [sic] against a Director of one of the other defendants.

‘Once this trial is complete, proceedings in the civil proceedings are expected by early December 2016. It is not clear at this stage whether proceedings will in fact be served on Guildford Borough Council.’

‘With regard to the civil proceedings, the claimants’ allegations against GBC (although not exhaustive) are that, as owner of the premises they were ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety of visitors, that contractors were competent and that maintenance inspections were undertaken by the relevant person.’ ”

The report explains that Guildford Borough Council is just one of a number of defendants. Others are the operators of the building, HQ Theatres, part of the Qdos entertainment group, and Wilmott Dixon, that built G Live.

Members of the council’s building control team are reported to have been interviewed with regard to building regulations during its construction and one council officer has been informed that he may be called as a witness for the Crown at the trial.