Men plead not guilty over explosion that killed 10

Neil Armstrong, 56, Lee Ward, 57, and John Wright, 59, have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter

Three gas workers have each pleaded not guilty to 10 separate counts of manslaughter in connection with a fatal explosion at a block of flats in Jersey.

Ten residents died after the explosion at the Haut du Mont residential block, St Helier, in the early hours of 10 December 2022.

Neil Armstrong, 56, Lee Ward, 57, and John Wright, 59, who all worked for the gas supplier Island Energy at the time, appeared at Jersey's Royal Court on Wednesday.

All were charged with 10 counts of gross negligence manslaughter.

The explosion killed 10 people in 2022

In a separate case on Wednesday, Jersey Gas Company Ltd, which trades as Island Energy, pleaded not guilty to two separate criminal charges of not ensuring the health and safety of employees, and not ensuring the health and safety of those not in the company's employment.

Mr Armstrong, Mr Ward and Mr Wright had their bail extended and were told to next appear for a directions hearing in the autumn, on the first available date after 1 October 2025, the court said.

Prior to that hearing, the court will consider whether to hear the charges against the three men, and against Island Energy, in one trial.