A man was cleared of the manslaughter of his 16-year-old apprentice who fell to his death from a roof.

In a trial lasting two weeks, the jury found site supervisor Andrew Voy, 35, of Memorial Avenue, West Ham, not guilty of failing to ensure there were no gaps in the safety railings.

Alfie Perrin, from Enfield, slipped from scaffolding in Camden Road, Wanstead, where his employer Roof Top Rooms Ltd was completing an extension in November 2012.

At the time, the apprentice was throwing bags of waste into a skip in the road.

Alfie was treated at the scene, but later died from a catastrophic head injury at Wanstead Hospital in Makepeace Road.

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: The scene of the accident in Camden Road Wanstead

The scene of the incident in Camden Road, Wanstead.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, Mr Voy was charged with manslaughter due to allegedly failing to ensure there was any gaps in the scaffolding.

The carpenter for Roof Top Rooms Ltd had denied the charge at Snaresbrook Crown Court on January 23. 

Yesterday, standing accused of manslaughter at the same court, he was duly cleared by the jury.

The two directors of the north London company Roof Top Rooms Ltd, Colin Allison, 39, and Gary Smith, admitted two counts of breaching health and safety regulations earlier this month.

The company is expected to be ordered to pay a hefty fine at the Snaresbrook court when sentencing takes place on April 13.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Alfie Perrin

Alfie Perrin died of head injuries

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: The trial continues at Snaresbrook Crown Court, pictured.

Andrew Voy was cleared of manslaughter at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday.