Biggs to wait a year to see if Council faces charges

The inquest into the death of Alexia Walenkaki began today, 11th April – and was immediately adjourned until 16th January 2017. The last minute delay came because police needed more time to obtain expert evidence – and to follow up a new input into the inquiry from the Heath and Safety Executive.

The time being taken by the painstaking police inquiry has once more raised concerns that the Council may face charges of corporate manslaughter. Alexia died on 17th July last year, the day before her sixth birthday, in Mile End Park. A tree anchoring a swing she had been playing on fell on her, and although she received medical attention very quickly, she could not be saved and died in hospital a couple of hour later.

The tree was inspected and was found to be rotten inside. The Council has always insisted that corporate manslaughter charges would not be appropriate in this case, but it will now have to wait several months before finding out whether the Crown Prosecution Service agrees.

The adjournment was a surprise, as pre-inquest review hearings had taken place, and every indication was that the inquest would be going ahead. Today’s coroner, Mary Hassell, said that she had been reluctant to agree to the adjournment, but had had no choice. Alexia Walenkaki’s family had prepared themselves to go through the inquest today, and Ms Hassell was very unhappy that they were receiving such late notice of the adjournment.

John Biggs issued a statement before the inquest was due to begin which said: “This was a tragic incident and my thoughts are with Alexia’s family today as the inquest opens. The council continues to co-operate fully with the Police and HSE investigation, which is ongoing. We will await the Coroner’s findings before making any further comment.”

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