Girl dies after falling between train and platform in Liverpool - 22 October 2011

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

Details of a tragic accident that has subsequently taken an unusual turn - a story to keep an eye on.

Full article:
BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): Georgia Varley dies in Liverpool railway station fall

A girl has died after falling between a carriage and the platform at a Liverpool railway station, apparently while running after a train.

Georgia Varley, 16, of Wallasey, Wirral, died at Liverpool James Street station late on Saturday night, British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said.

Police believe she had been running to catch a train home that had friends and family on board.

Some bystanders needed treatment for shock after witnessing her death.

About 40 passengers were on the platform at the time of the incident, which involved the 23:01 BST Merseyrail service to West Kirby.

It is thought Georgia had been on a night out.

BTP said Ms Varley fell between a train and the platform and was killed as the train left the station.

Full story of developments reported yesterday:
BBC: Merseyrail man interviewed over Georgia Varley death

A Merseyrail employee has been interviewed by police over the death of a teenage girl at a Merseyside station.

Georgia Varley, 16, was killed when she fell between a train and the platform at James Street station on 22 October.

The teenager from Wallasey had been celebrating at an 18th birthday party with friends before the incident.

British Transport Police interviewed a 44-year-old man under caution and released him on bail until 11 January. Merseyrail said it had suspended him.

A Merseyrail spokesman said: "Merseyrail and its staff will continue to co-operate fully with British Transport Police to ensure that the full facts are established as soon as possible so that Georgia's family and friends can find answers to exactly what happened and help them to come to terms with their loss.

"We extend our deepest sympathy to Georgia's family and friends at this difficult time."

He said that the employee had been suspended on full pay.

[inspector_blakey]

Now the subject of an investigation by the RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch):

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/111022_Liverpool_James_St.cfm

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the British Transport Police press release:

Man charged following death of Georgia Varley at James Street rail station, Liverpool

A 44-year-old man from Wallasey has today, Friday 3 February, been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates^ Court on 23 February.

The charge relates to an incident at James Street rail station, Liverpool, on 22 October 2011, in which a 16-year-old girl suffered fatal injuries.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Wirral News:

Merseyrail guard charged with manslaughter over Georgia Varley James Street station death

A Merseyrail guard will appear in court charged with manslaughter over the death of Wirral teenager Georgia Varley at a Liverpool train station.

Georgia, 16, from Moreton, was killed in October when she slipped between a train and the platform at James Street station.

The Birkenhead Sixth Form College pupil was part of a large group of youngsters who left an 18th birthday party in Hoylake and were heading into the city centre when tragedy struck.

A 44-year-old guard was suspended almost immediately and yesterday British Transport Police announced they had pressed charges following a three month investigation.

Christopher James McGee, of Edenhurst Avenue, Wallasey, will appear at Liverpool magistrates court later this month accused of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Friends who saw what happened said Georgia mistakenly stepped off the train a stop too soon and bent down to put on the shoes she had taken off.

By the time she stood up and realised her mistake the doors had closed behind her as the train prepared to move off.

A friend called through the window to tell her to stand back and they would go back for her, but her inquest heard how CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) footage captured her leaning against the train.

Georgia was then seen moving along the platform, possibly clinging to the train, before falling down the gap, where she died.

Friends on board described the emergency brakes going on as the train pulled away from the station and an announcement in the carriages which said: ^Stay calm, we have hit someone.^

Georgia^s dad, Paul Varley, and friends have since begun to campaign for safety gates to be installed in Merseyrail stations to make sure such a tragedy cannot happen again.

A BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) spokesman said: ^A 44-year-old man from Wallasey has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates^ Court on February 23.

^The charge relates to an incident at James Street rail station, Liverpool, on October 22 2011, in which a 16-year-old girl suffered fatal injuries.^

A Merseyrail spokesman confirmed the accused was an employee of the company.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

:-/ this doesn't add up to me, I wish they would refrain from publishing half of the story and wait for the report to be published

[JayMac]

Any legal aspects arising from such incidents can often take primacy over, for example, a RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) report.

It would, I think, be unfair on all parties to wait for an official report before BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)/CPS decided on whether to begin or continue legal proceedings. RAIB reports can take up to a year to reach their findings and it should also be noted that the RAIB don't seek to apportion blame.
 
The above are general observations. Please can I remind all forum members that this is now a very serious legal matter and ask that you refrain from making supposition or apportioning blame.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Exactly,so far reading from the articles quoted it sounds like 3 different events are being discussed? Anyway we will see when investigations are finished

[Chris from Nailsea]

From Click Liverpool:

Dad of tragic Georgia Varley faces rail guard accused in Liverpool court

The father of a schoolgirl killed when she fell beneath a train has come face-to-face with the rail guard accused of her manslaughter.

Christopher McGee, 45, was arrested and suspended from his job with Merseyrail following the death of 16 year-old Georgia Varley at an underground station.

The "popular and beautiful" A-level pupil allegedly tried to get back on a Merseyrail train at James Street station in Liverpool on a half-term night out on October 22nd last year.

Tragic Georgia is thought to have left the train before her friends at the wrong station and tried to board again but slipped and fell beneath the Liverpool to West Kirby service.

Around 40 commuters were on the train platform at the city centre station when Georgia Varley died and some of them were treated for shock and offered counselling.

McGee, from Wallasey, Wirral, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court accused of manslaughter by gross negligence. He did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name and address.

The court heard through defence counsel Mr Cassidy that Mr McGee would fully contest the charge of unlawful killing and was "sincerely" sorry that Georgia had died.

Mr Cassidy said: "Mr McGee would like to take this opportunity to sincerely express his condolences to the family of friends of Georgia Varley."

District Judge Richard Clancy reffered the case to crown court until 8th March and asked anxious McGee if he understood the "serious nature" of the charge of unlawful killing. He said: "Due to the serious nature of this incident I am referring this case to the crown court and you will be released on condition of the bail."

The tall rail guard stood nervously in the witness stand and nodded before leaving with an entourage who flanked him as he left the building.

Paul Varley, from New Brighton on Wirral, was comforted by a group of six friends and family as the man accused of causing his daughter's death was released on bail.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Georgia Varley death: Christopher McGee, Merseyrail guard, blamed in court

A Merseyrail guard charged with the manslaughter of a teenager at a station was the only person who could have prevented her death, a court has heard.

Georgia Varley, 16, from Wallasey, Wirral, died when she fell between the carriage and platform at Liverpool's James Street station in October 2011.

The city's crown court heard she was very drunk and had taken mephedrone.

Christopher McGee, 45, who gave the signal to start the train, denies manslaughter by gross negligence.

The court heard Georgia had been at a birthday party in Wirral and had travelled on the Merseyrail train into Liverpool before the incident happened at about 23:00 GMT on 22 October.

Opening the case, the prosecution said she had been drinking and had the drug mephedrone in her system.

The jury was shown CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) footage of Georgia standing on the platform at James Street station with her hands on the train. The footage then showed her falling as the train pulled away.

The prosecution said Mr McGee gave the signal to start the train when he could not have failed to realise Georgia was in contact with the train and was inebriated.

The court heard Mr McGee must have already known Georgia was drunk as he had seen her and a friend get off the train and back on again at Meols station, on the way to Liverpool.

The prosecution said he was the only person with the capability to prevent the situation which led to her death.

The jury heard Mr McGee told colleagues and the police he thought Georgia was moving away from the train when he gave the driver the signal to go.

But in his defence statement, he said it could be reasonably anticipated that she would move away as the train started to move.

The trial continues.

[JayMac]

Moderator hat on.

May I point out the last line of that news item quoted by Chris from Nailsea:

The trial continues.

Discussion is welcome, but care needs to be taken when expressing opinions. I've seen some comments elsewhere on the internet that may potentially fall foul of sub judice laws should they come to the attention of the court involved in this case.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Georgia Varley rail death: Guard thought she was not in danger

A Merseyrail guard accused of causing the death of a teenager who fell under a train did not know she was in danger, Liverpool Crown Court has heard.

Georgia Varley, 16, from Moreton, Wirral, died when she fell between the carriage and platform at Liverpool's James Street station in October 2011.

The court heard she was drunk and was leaning on the side of the carriage when the train began to depart.

Guard Christopher McGee, 45, denies manslaughter.

Mr McGee, of Edenhurst Avenue, Wallasey, who gave the signal for the train to set off, also denies failing to take reasonable care contrary to the Health and Safety at work Act. He said he believed Georgia was moving away from the train when he gave the signal for the driver to depart.

Cross-examined by Nick Johnson QC for the prosecution Mr McGee said: "She looked like she was talking through the window or banging on the window."

Mr Johnson said CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) showed Georgia was leaning against the carriage.

"I thought she was moving away," the defendant replied. "I didn't think she was in any danger."

Earlier, the court heard that Georgia had gone into Liverpool for a night out with her friends. A blood analysis following her death showed she had 236mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and the drug mephedrone in her system at the time of her death. The alcohol limit for driving is 80mg per 100ml.

CCTV footage shown to the jury showed Georgia mistakenly getting off the train just before 23:30 GMT on 22 October last year, before turning around and leaning against the side as she realised her friends were still on board. The footage then showed her falling as the train pulled away.

Mr McGee told the court he did not know how drunk Georgia had been. He said: "If I had known she was drunk I would have got her friends to look after her, but I didn't know."

The trial continues.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Georgia Varley train death: Guard guilty over rail death fall


Georgia Varley fell between the train and the platform at James Street

A Merseyrail guard has been found guilty of causing the death of a 16-year-old girl who died after falling under a train at a Liverpool station.

Georgia Varley died when she fell between the carriage and platform at James Street station in October 2011.

Christopher McGee, 45, had denied manslaughter but was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court. He signalled for the driver to depart as Miss Varley, who was drunk, stood on the platform leaning against the train.

The prosecution said McGee should have been able to see that she was in an "intoxicated state". But he told the jury he thought the sixth form student was moving away from the train when he gave the signal to depart. He also said he did not know how drunk she had been.


Christopher McGee was found guilty of causing the death of Georgia Varley

McGee, of Wallasey, Wirral, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence and the jury was then discharged from reaching a verdict in an alternative, lesser charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Miss Varley, from Moreton, Wirral, had been at a house party before she went into Liverpool for a night out with her friends when the tragedy happened on 22 October last year. A blood analysis following her death showed she had 236mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in her system - the legal driving limit is 80mg. She also had the drug mephedrone in her system at the time of her death.

During the trial, the jury was shown CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) footage of the moments before the teenager's death. The footage showed Miss Varley mistakenly getting off the train just before 23:30 BST, before turning around and leaning against the side as she realised her friends were still on board. She was then seen to stagger and fall down the gap as the train moved off, before stopping after travelling about 30ft (9m).

Mr Justice Holroyde said he would pass sentence at 10:00 BST on Thursday. He remanded McGee in custody saying it was a "very serious offence" and said he faces a sentence of imprisonment.

[Brucey]

As a verdict has now been passed, I will also pass my opinion.  To say I am shocked with the verdict is an understatement.  In particular, I find the second paragraph of this quote disturbing.  How many teenagers lean on trains as they are ready to depart on a typical weekend?

Speaking outside court, Miss Varley's mother, Paula Redmond, 41, said: "Christopher McGee will complete his sentence and return to his family. Mine is now gone forever.

"We have listened as our daughter was portrayed as being a drunken liability when, in all honesty, she did no more than what many teenagers do of a weekend - she went out to celebrate her friend's birthday.

"The only liability that night was a train guard whom Georgia had the catastrophic misfortune to encounter.

"For he had very little, if any, regard at all for our daughter and her safety."

Ms Redmond said her daughter was "an absolute joy to be around".

"To say she was a wonderful, amazing daughter would be a massive understatement," she added.

[LiskeardRich]

As a verdict has now been passed, I will also pass my opinion.  To say I am shocked with the verdict is an understatement.  In particular, I find the second paragraph of this quote disturbing.  How many teenagers lean on trains as they are ready to depart on a typical weekend?

Speaking outside court, Miss Varley's mother, Paula Redmond, 41, said: "Christopher McGee will complete his sentence and return to his family. Mine is now gone forever.

"We have listened as our daughter was portrayed as being a drunken liability when, in all honesty, she did no more than what many teenagers do of a weekend - she went out to celebrate her friend's birthday.

"The only liability that night was a train guard whom Georgia had the catastrophic misfortune to encounter.

"For he had very little, if any, regard at all for our daughter and her safety."

Ms Redmond said her daughter was "an absolute joy to be around".

"To say she was a wonderful, amazing daughter would be a massive understatement," she added.

I also find it disturbing as it is illegal for a 16 year old to drink alcohol, and also illegal substances in her blood, definitely something many I know never did.

[Chris from Nailsea]

It is not illegal for a 16 year old to drink alcohol: it is illegal for them to buy alcohol.