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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rail crash convictions overturned | Rail crash convictions overturned |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A train driver found guilty of manslaughter after a rail crash which killed five people in March 1989 has had his convictions overturned. | A train driver found guilty of manslaughter after a rail crash which killed five people in March 1989 has had his convictions overturned. |
| Robert Morgan, 64, of Ferring, West Sussex, was operating a London-bound train which collided with another service outside Purley station. | Robert Morgan, 64, of Ferring, West Sussex, was operating a London-bound train which collided with another service outside Purley station. |
| More than 80 other people were injured in the crash. | More than 80 other people were injured in the crash. |
| He was originally jailed for 18 months, 12 of which were suspended, but the term was cut to four months on appeal. | |
| 'Delighted and relieved' | |
| Mr Morgan did plead guilty to two counts of manslaughter, but he launched a challenge to his convictions which was based around evidence concerning a particular signal on the line. | |
| He was driving a Littlehampton to London Victoria train which went through a red light and collided with a Horsham to Victoria service. | |
| New evidence was presented that signal T168 had been passed when on red on four occasions previous to the fatal crash, between 1984 and 1987, and then again in June 1991. | |
| Three Appeal Court judges ruled Mr Morgan's convictions unsafe on Wednesday. | |
| A statement issued through his solicitor after the hearing said he was "both delighted and relieved" at the appeal verdict. |