Rail guard faces jail over teen’s death

Published on 15/11/2012 02:29

A RAILWAY guard is facing jail after being convicted of causing the death of a drunken teenager who fell under a train.

Christopher McGee, 45, gave the signal for the driver to depart as Georgia Varley, 16, was leaning against the carriage on the platform.

He was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence yesterday by a unanimous jury at Liverpool Crown Court following a two-week trial. The court heard Georgia was on a night out in Liverpool with friends when she fell between the train and the platform at the city’s James Street station on 22 October last year.

The sixth-form college student, from Moreton, Wirral, was three times over the legal drink driving limit and had 0.083mg of the drug mephedrone, or Mcat, in her system at the time of her death, the court heard.

The prosecution said McGee, of Wallasey, Wirral, was negligent because he gave the signal to the driver to start the train when Georgia was in contact with it and was in an “intoxicated state”.

McGee, who had denied manslaughter, said he thought Georgia 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.

Trial judge Mr Justice Holroyde said he would pass sentence today.