The jury in the trial of a pub chain blamed for failing to prevent the death of a young student has retired to consider its verdict.
First-year Durham University undergraduate Olivia Burt died after suffering injuries when a partition collapsed as she waited to get into Missoula, in Durham City centre.
The venue, which was operated by the Stonegate Pub Company, was struggling to deal with an unexpected influx of students on the night of the 20-year-old’s death, Teesside Crown Court heard.
A security expert, giving evidence for the pub group, said the team of door staff had not handled the situation very well after the screen had collapsed earlier on the same evening.
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Yesterday, Judge Howard Crowson ruled that three charges of breaching health and safety regulations should be dismissed after directing the jury to record not guilty verdicts.
This afternoon, the jury went out to consider the remaining charge that the pub chain is facing.
Jurors have watched CCTV footage showing the collapse of the screen in the background and shocked students and security staff rushing over.
Miss Burt died from head injuries suffered when a partition barrier or screen fell on her amid a surge in the queue of students waiting to gain access to the rear of the venue, in the Walkergate complex, late on February 7, 2018.
Stonegate denies the remaining charge brought by Durham County Council.
The trial continues.
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