Blast death MoD scientist cleared

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A Ministry of Defence scientist has been cleared at the Old Bailey of the manslaughter of a worker following an explosion at a testing station.

Dr Maurice Marshall was employed at the Defence, Scientific and Technology Laboratory in Fort Halstead, Kent.

He was charged with the manslaughter of Terrance Jupp, who died following a blast at an MoD testing station at Shoeburyness, Essex, in August 2002.

Mr Jupp, 46, of Hatfield, Herts, died of septicaemia from his injuries.

Test results

Judge Anthony Morris formally cleared Dr Marshall, 58, during a brief hearing, which the scientist did not attend.

Fellow MoD scientist Robert Weighill had been cleared of the manslaughter of Mr Jupp, 46, back in August 2005.

Explaining the decision to drop the charges, Gareth Patterson, prosecuting said: "Things have recently changed. Further information has recently come into the possession of the Crown Prosecution Service.

"That information involves further evidence involving the results of a series of tests carried out by one of the prosecution witnesses."

Alexander Cameron QC, defending, said: "Dr Marshall always maintained his innocence."