Four men will face charges of unlawful act manslaughter in connection with the death of a father who was restrained by public transport workers at a tram stop in Manchester. The incident occurred on 11 October 2016 when 29-year-old Jack Barnes was held by four customer service representatives of the Metrolink tram system. Tragically, Barnes passed away on 2 December, two months after the incident took place outside Victoria Station in Manchester city center.
Following an inquest in March 2021, HM Senior Coroner for Manchester Nigel Meadows ruled Barnes’ death as an unlawful killing and stated that the restraint he experienced more than minimally, trivially or negligibly contributed to the cardiac arrest. As a result of this ruling, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyers have decided to charge four men.
The individuals who will be charged are Paul Fogarty, 50, Brian Gartside, 59, Stephen Rowlands, 67, and Matthew Sellers, 29, all of whom were staff members subcontracted by Metrolink at the time of the incident. They will face charges of unlawful act manslaughter. Additionally, Stephen Rowlands will also face a charge of perverting the course of justice relating to a witness statement.
The CPS has emphasized that criminal proceedings are underway, and it is vital that there is no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online that could potentially prejudice these proceedings. The four individuals charged, Fogarty, Gartside, Rowlands, and Sellers, will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on a date that is yet to be determined.
This case has drawn significant attention due to the ruling of unlawful killing and the circumstances surrounding Barnes’ death. It underscores the importance of fair trial proceedings and the need to ensure justice is served. The tragic loss of a young father has resulted in serious charges being brought against the individuals involved, and the proceedings will be closely watched as they unfold.
