Five in court over Bay cockling disaster (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Five in court over Bay cockling disaster

12:28pm Thursday 22nd September 2005

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A GANGMASTER and four other people have gone on trial charged in connection with the Morecambe Bay cockle disaster when 21 people lost their lives.

Lin Liang Ren, 29, from Liverpool is charged with 21 counts of manslaughter.

He also faces charges of facilitation and perverting the course of justice along with his girlfriend at the time, Zhao Xiao Qing, 19, from Liverpool.

The jury at Preston Crown Court was told how the Chinese cockle pickers, all of whom were illegal immigrants, drowned because Lin Liang Ren failed to take proper care for their safety as they worked for low wages on a cold and dark February night in 2004.

Read tomorrow's Westmorland Gazette for the full story and updates on Thursday's developments. Click on link below for more Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen news.

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