A man appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of a 20- year-old forestry worker who died on site last year in New Zealand. Source: One News
The arrest of the 46-year-old Horowhenua man was an unprecedented move for police, and is believed to be the first time someone has been charged with manslaughter over a forestry death in New Zealand.
The accused was arrested and charged following an investigation by Worksafe NZ and police.
He will appeared in the Levin District Court. He has also been charged with serious workplace health and safety charges by WorkSafe NZ.
Lincoln Kidd was killed by a falling tree while working at a site near Levin last December. Mr Kidd’s mother, Lesley Kidd has been campaigning for police to take action and hold someone accountable for the death of her son.
Ms Kidd said she would continue her fight to get police involved in holding people accountable for workplace deaths.
“We want to follow this through because it’s our life, we need to know that something is being done,” she said.
“If someone dies the police don’t seem to be involved to the extent that we would like”.
In June, WorkSafe NZ laid charges against the forestry company claiming it knew that serious harm was reasonably likely to be caused
