Three men have appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of the youngest Briton to reach the summit of Mount Everest more than six years ago.
Jonathan Tinker, Henry Todd and Michael Smith appeared at York Magistrates Court charged with unlawfully killing 22-year-old Michael Matthews on the mountain between May 12 and May 15 1999.
No representative from Alpine Mountaineering Ltd, which also faces a charge of manslaughter, appeared at the hearing. Mr Matthews, a financial dealer in the City of London, has been presumed dead since he disappeared as he descended the 29,035ft mountain in a 100mph blizzard during a tour.
Tinker, of Bishopthorpe Road, York, Todd, of Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal, and Smith, of Verbier, Switzerland, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses during todays hearing.
District Judge Martin Walker adjourned the case and ordered all four defendants to appear at the Central Criminal Court in London on June 6.
The prosecution has been brought by Mr Matthews father David, 62, a millionaire property investor and former amateur racing driver.
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