H&C

17
Mar
2010

No Comments

Jury is out in gyrocopter case

A gyrocopter similar to this one was involved

The jury in the case of an animal rights enthusiast who piloted a gyrocopter which killed a hunt supporter today began its second day of deliberations.

Bryan Griffiths, 55, is charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of Warwickshire Hunt member Trevor Morse at Long Marston airfield on March 9 last year.

During a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, jurors heard Mr Morse's head was cleaved "from top to bottom" by the blade of the gyrocopter as he tried to stop it from taking off.

Mr Morse, 48, refused to move out of the way as Griffiths went towards him and the rear propeller of the aircraft, moving at a speed approaching 200mph, cut his head from top to bottom, killing him instantly, the court heard.

Griffiths had been monitoring the hunt from the air and had stopped at the airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, to refuel.

The incident was caught on camera by the man who had brought fuel to the airfield, Peter Bunce, and jurors have watched the footage a number of times during the trial.

Griffiths, of Wiltshire Close, Bedworth, north Warwickshire, denies manslaughter by gross negligence.