TWO takeaway bosses have been found guilty of the manslaughter of teenager Megan Lee.
The 15-year-old suffered an allergic reaction after ordering food from the Royal Spice in Oswaldtwistle.
Mohammed Abdul Kuddus, 40, and Harun Rashid, 38, were found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court of manslaughter by gross negligence.
Megan died after eating food from the Royal Spice on December 30 2016.
The eight men and four women took about six hours of deliberations to reach their verdicts.
Rashid, of Rudd Street, Haslingden, who had claimed he was merely a delivery driver at the restaurant at the time, was also found guilty of failing to discharge a general duty of employers, contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act, and another count of failing to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures in contravention of European Union food safety regulations.
Kuddus, of Belper Street, Blackburn, had already pleaded guilty to those two charges on behalf of himself and on behalf of Royal Spice Takeaway Ltd - but he declined to give evidence in the trial.
Family members of Megan were in tears in the public gallery as the two men - both Bangladeshi nationals - were found guilty.
The court heard Megan's friend ordered the meal through the Just Eat website and wrote "prawns, nuts" in the comments and notes section.
But the meal, which included an onion bhaji, a seekh kebab and a Peshwari naan, was later found to have the "widespread presence" of peanut protein.
Megan had an immediate reaction to the kebab and died two days later after suffering irreversible brain damage from a later asthma attack.
Following her death a police inquiry was launched and later on January 6 the restaurant was immediately closed down by Trading Standards and environmental hygiene officers.
Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, told the court her death was a "disaster waiting to happen".
It was alleged there was a "litany of failings" in the kitchen including poor hygiene and no records of ingredients kept.
The takeaway has since reopened under new ownership.
The two men were released on bail to be sentenced on November 7.
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