Man Faces Manslaughter Charge Over Fisherman’s Friends’ Deaths At G Live

Published on: 4 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 7 Nov, 2015

A man has been charged with two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence following the deaths of a singer with the singing group Fisherman’s Friends and their tour manager at G Live in 2013.

David Naylor, 56, of Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, Shropshire has been charged with gross negligence of the deaths of singer Trevor Grills, 54, and tour manager Paul McMullen, 44.

Temporary fencing erected to the side of G Live in Guildford after the incident on Saturday, February 9, 2013.

A four-and-half tonne metal door fell on them as the group was setting up for a concert at the venue on February 9, 2013.

Mr McMullen, from Stockport, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mr Grills, from Cornwall, died at St George’s Hospital in London two days later.

Fisherman’s Friends’ website.

Mr Naylor is on conditional bail and is due to appear at South West Surrey Magistrates’ Court in Guildford on December 15. He had originally been arrested in connection with the incident in August 2014.

The company, Express High Fold Doors Limited, which manufactured the doors involved in the incident at the venue on February 9, 2013, has been summonsed for breaches of the duty imposed by Sections 6 of the Health and Safety at Work Act (Section 33 HASAW).

A statement issued by Surrey Police noted the particulars of the offence area as: “Between 1 April 2009 and 10 February 2013 being the designer and manufacturer of an article for use at work you failed to ensure so far as reasonably practical that the article was so designed and constructed that it was safe and without risk to health at all times when it was being used by a person at work.”

Sue Sturgeon, the managing director of Guildford Borough Council, which owns G Live, said: “The council welcomes Surrey Police’s announcement that their joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive is ready to move to the next stage.

“It is important that all those affected by this terrible tragedy, particularly the families of Paul McMullen and Trevor Grills, are able to find out why this happened. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of both men who died and anyone else affected by the tragic incident at G Live on February 9, 2013.”