Boy's farm death 'tragic accident', dad tells jury

Albie Speakman was playing in a garden on the farm when he was killed

The death of a three-year-old boy at a family farm was a "tragic accident", the boy's father has told a jury.

Neil Speakman, 39, reversed a telehandler machine over his son Albie at his farm on Bentley Hall Road, Walshaw, Bury, at about midday on 16 July 2022.

Albie, who had been left playing in a garden at the front of the farmhouse, suffered catastrophic injuries.

Mr Speakman, who denies gross negligence manslaughter, told Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court the incident had "ruined my life".

The prosecution said the garden where Mr Speakman had left his son to play was insecure so Albie was free to wander into the yard where his father was working and that the Kramer telehandler had various defects.

The defendant told jurors that because the telehandler had a missing wing mirror he would "check profusely" for blind spots but he did not see his son.

He said: "I am always careful in what I do. He was my little boy."

Asked to describe what happened next, he said: "You felt a bump instantly. I had travelled 10cm, 20cm... I stopped instantly. It was a split second.

"I looked right and saw his legs, and jumped off."

He wiped away tears as he added that he "shouldn't have to do this", swore and said it was "not fair".

Mr Speakman told his barrister Alexander Leach KC he had driven his neighbour's telehandler hundreds of times "easily" and was "more than competent".

He said: "I looked over both shoulders a number of times, I have gone fully round, 180 degrees.

"If I thought Albie was even an inch into that yard I would never have moved that vehicle."

'Messed up'

He told prosecutor, John Elvidge KC, cross-examining: "It was a tragic accident. I made a mistake."

Mr Speakman agreed he had an "obligation" to ensure Albie was kept apart from moving vehicles.

"I checked every possible blind spot. I checked he was not there. I couldn't have checked more," he said.

Asked why he had not put Albie inside the farmhouse, he said: "It was 33 degrees.

"He wanted to play outside with his dogs. It was his family home."

He said Albie "knew dangers" on the farm, but added: "I shouldn't have left him in the garden. We all know that.

"Is it truly exceptional bad behaviour, neglectful behaviour? No.

"I messed up, I shouldn't have left him there."

He added: "It's one bit of human error for a split second which has ruined my life."

Mr Speakman said that "seconds before" the collision he had seen his son sat in the garden playing with the family dogs.

He said: "I have looked behind to the best of my ability. Not for a second would I risk his life. He is the best thing that's ever happened."

The prosecution alleges Mr Speakman disregarded a warning in 2020 from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about the use of another piece of farm machinery with a lifting bucket attached.

A letter was said to have been sent by the HSE to warn him of potentially fatal consequences after the emergence of a video posted on social media, which showed a teenager inside the bucket in the air as the defendant moves the vehicle and is heard to say: "I'm going to drop you".

But Mr Speakman denied he had received any such letter and told the court the family had had problems with missing post.

The defendant has pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act in failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practical, the health and safety of Albie.

The trial continues.