New Zealand mine boss denies tragedy was his fault

Published on 26/10/2012 03:21

The senior manager of a New Zealand coal mine where 29 miners, including two Scots, were killed when a shaft collapsed, has pleaded not guilty to failing to safeguard the workers there.

Former Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall is charged with knowing about, or participating in, the failures of the company and with failing to ensure his actions did not harm any of his employees.

Whittall’s charges relate to his alleged failure to manage the mine’s ventilation and mitigate the risk of explosions. Whittall’s lawyers say their client is a long-time coal miner who would never do anything to put his workers at risk and he is being made “a scapegoat”.

Two Scots, Malcolm Campbell, 25, and Peter Rodger, 40, are still entombed in the mine.