CRIMINAL charges could be brought after an inquest jury ruled that a young labourer who was trapped in a baling machine at work was unlawfully killed.

Police, health and safety chiefs and environmental health officers will tomorrow meet the Crown Prosecution Service to review the investigation into the death of Steven Donald, 17, left, from Clayton-le-Moors.

Mr Donald died from multiple organ failure and crush injuries after he fell through a hole in a conveyor belt at EW Cartons Ltd, Rishton.

The company is a family-run firm, managed by Accrington Stanley owner and chairman Eric Whalley.

The CPS decided in May not to bring criminal charges following an investigation by detectives and safety inspectors.

But a spokesman said today that that decision was to be reviewed at tomorrow's meeting "in the light of the jury's verdict."

Acting coroner Michael Singleton directed the jury at Blackburn that if they returned a verdict of unlawful killing, they must be sure that either involuntary manslaughter or gross negligence had taken place.

He said that negligence, if found, could be on the part of EW Cartons Ltd, or an employee from Waste Equipment Ltd, of Bamber Bridge, which supplied and fitted the secondhand machine.

The verdict could open the way for compensation claims by Mr Donald's family.

The dead man's father Greg Donald said he would take legal advice to ensure those responsible for his son's death are punished.

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