Jury weighs up explosion verdict
11/06/2010
The jury in the trial of three firms charged over an explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire has retired to consider its verdict.
A huge vapour cloud ignited when 250,000 litres of petrol leaked from one of its tanks, causing the destruction of the depot.
The blast measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and could be heard 125 miles away. It is thought to be the largest explosion in peacetime Europe.
Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd (HOSL), Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd and TAV Engineering Ltd are on trial at St Albans Crown Court for health and safety breaches prior to the explosion on December 11, 2005.
Total UK has already admitted three health and safety breaches in connection with the explosion, while the British Pipeline Agency Ltd has also admitted two charges.
Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd is in voluntary liquidation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
The trial opened on April 15 and the jury retired earlier on Thursday, a court official confirmed.
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