UK Athletics Corporate Manslaughter Charge
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
UK Athletics Limited has been charged with corporate manslaughter concerning the death of the 36-year-old javelin, discus and shotput Paralympian, Abdullah Hayayei.
He died after a metal cage fell on him whilst he was training at Newham Leisure Centre in London, United Kingdom, in July 2017.
UK Athletics Limited will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 31 January 2025.
Corporate manslaughter is a crime in a number of jurisdictions, whereby a corporation may be punished for culpable conduct which leads to a person’s death. It is separate to a civil claim for compensation in damages for negligence causing a person’s death.
As such, corporate manslaughter has been criticised as civil damages are considered to be a more appropriate remedy for recognising an unlawful death and providing a deterrence.
Furthermore, it is argued that only individuals, not legal persons, such as limited companies, can commit crimes, which not only include the criminal act (actus reus), but also the criminal intent (mens rea).
Establishing a case of corporate manslaughter is, thus, a complex matter in practice.
It will be interesting to see what happens in this case!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
