Croydon Train Crash Disaster: Inquest Jury Return Accidental Death Conclusion
Miles Bennett, instructed by Gary Rubin and Trevor Francis from the Blackfords LLP Health and Safety team represented Alf Dorris, the driver of the tram. In spite of submissions to the contrary Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for South London left unlawful killing as a possible conclusion for the jury in relation to all 7 deaths. Since the decision of the Supreme Court in Maughan in 2020 the standard of proof required for an unlawful killing conclusion is now the lower standard “on the balance of probabilities” rather than “satisfied so as to be sure”. Having heard extensive evidence on the circumstances surrounding the tram’s derailment, and suggestions that the driver had "fallen asleep”, the jury rejected unlawful killing and reached unanimous conclusions of accidental death. “