Case Summary:

Title: R v Singh (1999) 

Court of Appeal, 19.2.99

The Court of Appeal upheld Mr Singh's conviction of manslaughter for gross negligence resulting in the death of Paul Foster. 

A landlord left his son, Gurphal Singh in charge of his Ipswich property while he returned to India and the tenant, Paul Foster died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.The Court of Appeal recently ruled that there was sufficient proximity between Mr Singh and his father for a duty of care to apply to his management role.  He was in effect acting as his father's agent.  The father, the son and the gas fitter responsible for servicing the boiler were all convicted for manslaughter. 

The Court of Appeal said that Mr Singh had sufficient information about the dangers of defective gas fires to have taken action and a custodial sentence of nine months imprisonment was imposed.

Casetrack Case No. 9803983 Z4

Copy of full Official transcript on file.