Live Nation has failed in its bid to have charges over the death of a drum technician before a Radiohead concert four years ago thrown out because of “unreasonable delay” in the case.
Scott Johnson, 33, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was killed when the stage collapsed in Downsview Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 16, 2012.
Live Nation Canada, Live Nation Ontario and Optex Staging and Services each face four charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, while an engineer, Domenic Cugliari, faces one charge of endangering a worker by negligence. All have pleaded not guilty and their trial began last year.
Charges were brought in June 2013, but the trial, which began last year, is not due to conclude until January 2017. However, according to the Toronto Star, the trial judge has ruled the slow pace was acceptable because of the complexity of the evidence presented. “The issue of how the stage collapsed, and who is responsible for that, is complex,” said Justice Shaun Nakatsuru.
The trial is scheduled to resume on December 5. The maximum fine against a corporation, if convicted, is $500,000 per charge, while an individual can be fined $25,000 per charge and face up to a year in prison.
