AN inquest to determine how a seasonal farm worker died following a fire in his prefabricated accommodation is set to conclude next February.
During a review hearing that took place yesterday at Morier House in St Helier, Deputy Viscount Matthew Berry set out arrangements for the inquest.
George Michael Monte De Ramos Castrudes, from the Philippines, was rescued from his burning accommodation in Grouville on Sunday 19 January this year.
The 37-year-old employee at La Valette Nursery was treated at the scene at Rue au Blancq before being handed over to paramedics and taken to the General Hospital, where he died four days later.
Mr Berry said he had considered whether the scope of the inquest should be widened to consider the possibility of a breach of Article 2 of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which provides protection for the right to life and could, in theory, have led to ministers facing questions about the state’s role in providing sufficient levels of protection.
Mr Berry said he did not believe there was a suggestion that the government could have been aware of “a real and immediate risk to life” and that therefore he did not intend to conduct a wider inquest under Article 2, although he would still be prepared to “exercise my discretion to cast the net more broadly”.
Mr Castrudes’ sister Grace, and his partner Mitchelle Floreno followed proceedings from the Philippines, while the hearing was also attended by representatives for La Valette Nursery, the Jersey Farmers Union and the Customs and Immigration Service.
Mr Berry said that issues that would be considered were: the medical cause of Mr Castrudes’ death; the cause of the fire; the condition of his accommodation and the contribution – if any – to the cause of the fire and its spread; whether issues around Mr Castrudes’ finances, immigration status or other circumstances contributed to his death; and whether any recommendations should be made in order to prevent further deaths.
The concluding phase of the inquest is set to start on 24 February next year. Mr Berry said he anticipated that up to 14 pieces of documentary evidence would be considered and eight witnesses to give evidence in person.
Estimating that proceedings would last approximately two days, the Deputy Viscount said the hearing would be scheduled over four consecutive mornings in order to allow for the seven-hour time difference between Jersey and the Philippines.
Mr Berry concluded the hearing by expressing his condolence to Ms Castrudes and Ms Floreno for their loss.
