Guilty Verdicts Delivered for Two Gas Workers in Haut Du Mont Disaster
Two Island Energy gas workers were convicted of ten counts of gross negligence manslaughter each on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, following a fatal gas explosion that destroyed a block of flats in Jersey. Neil Armstrong, 58, and John Wright, 60, were unanimously found guilty by a jury at Jubilee Wharf after a trial lasting more than six weeks. The December 2022 blast at the Haut du Mont development in St Helier resulted in the deaths of ten islanders.
Company Convicted and Jurors Discharged on Third Defendant
In addition to the convictions of Armstrong and Wright, employer Island Energy—which trades as Jersey Gas—was unanimously found guilty of two health and safety offences relating to its duties toward employees and the public. The sources noted that company CEO Graeme Millar represented the firm in court. Meanwhile, the jury failed to reach a verdict for a third employee, Lee Ward, 59, who also faced ten counts of gross negligence manslaughter. Commissioner Andrew Oldland KC discharged the jury on Thursday, 22 October 2026, after 28 hours and three minutes of total deliberations, leaving Ward remanded on bail while the prosecution weighs a retrial within a 14-day window, according to sources.
Excavation Work Preceded the Fatal Blast
The trial detailed events leading up to the disaster in the early hours of 10 December 2022. The sources reported that Island Energy workers had been excavating gas pipes on the road below the buildings servicing La Collette on Friday, 9 December. Testimony indicated a pipe was incorrectly cut during the work, cutting off the gas supply to neighboring properties. Gas was subsequently reintroduced into the system without a pressure test to check for leaks. At 03:53 GMT on 10 December, an explosion triggered by an unknown spark or flame destroyed flat 28 and caused Block H to collapse, followed by a second blast in Block F shortly after 04:00.
Sentencing Hearings Scheduled Following Trial’s End
Commissioner Oldland thanked the 12 jurors for their service on a complex and lengthy case. Defendants Armstrong and Wright were remanded in custody, with a sentencing date set for 30 October 2026. Sentencing for Island Energy is scheduled for early 2027. The prosecution faces a 14-day deadline to formally notify the court and Ward’s legal representation regarding whether they will pursue a retrial on the ten manslaughter charges.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Haut Du Mont Trial
Who were the victims of the Haut du Mont explosion?
The ten victims who lost their lives in or as a result of the December 2022 disaster were Peter Bowler, Billy Marsden, Derek Ellis, Sylvia Ellis, Ken Ralph, Jane Ralph, Romeu De Almeida, Louise De Almeida, Raymond Brown, and Kathy McGinness, who died in hospital on Christmas Day after being injured in an adjacent building, according to sources.
What specific safety breaches were tied to Island Energy?
The company was convicted of two counts of breaking health and safety law regarding its legal duties toward both employees and members of the public during the pipe excavation and gas restoration work carried out in St Helier.
What are the exact roles held by the defendants at Island Energy?
At the time of the explosion, Neil Armstrong was a network officer and the supervisor of Wright and Ward, while John Wright worked as a team leader, as detailed in sources.
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