The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that four tram staff members will be charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Jack Barnes. Mr. Barnes, a 29-year-old from Hull, was restrained by four “customer service representatives” responsible for monitoring anti-social behavior on the Metrolink tram system in Manchester in October 2016.
Tragically, Mr. Barnes passed away on December 2, just weeks after the incident occurred near Victoria Station in Manchester city centre. In March 2021, following an inquest, Senior Coroner for Manchester Nigel Meadows ruled the death as an unlawful killing, noting that the restraint “more than minimally, trivially, or negligibly contributed to the cardiac arrest.”
Rosemary Ainslie, the head of the CPS Special Crime Division, confirmed the charges, stating, “The CPS has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge four men following the death of Jack Barnes in 2016. Mr. Barnes died on December 2, 2016, following an incident in Manchester city center on October 11, 2016. Paul Fogarty, 50, Brian Gartside, 59, Stephen Rowlands, 67, and Matthew Sellers, 29, who were staff members subcontracted by Metrolink at the time, are to be charged with unlawful act manslaughter. Mr. Rowlands will also be charged with a single offence of perverting the course of justice relating to a witness statement.”
Ainslie emphasised the importance of respecting the defendants’ right to a fair trial and urged against any reporting, commentary, or online sharing of information that could prejudice the ongoing proceedings.
The accused individuals, Paul Fogarty, Brian Gartside, Stephen Rowlands, and Matthew Sellers, are set to appear at the City of Manchester Magistrates’ Court on a date to be determined.
