THE UK'S biggest pub company is due to appear in court next month in connection with the death of student Olivia Burt outside a Durham nightclub four years ago.

Ms Burt was queuing outside Missoula bar in Durham when she was fatally injured after a barrier collapsed in February 2018.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided against pursuing manslaughter charges but Durham County Council has now charged Stonegate Pub Company with four health and safety breaches.

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The council confirmed last week a summons had been served on Stonegate Pub Company Ltd for four charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act, "in relation to matters dating from February 2017 to February 2018".

The Northern Echo:

The case was listed for a hearing at Peterlee Magistrates Court today (March 1), but was dealt with administratively. The case how now been listed for a hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on April 19.

A brief hearing of Durham and Darlington Coroner's Court was held last Wednesdsay today (February 23) at Crook Civic Centre, with family members attending online. 

Coroner Oliver Longstaff said: "I was informed by Durham County Council that a criminal prosecution is being brought against an interested party in the inquiry.

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"Accordingly the coroner's investigation into Olivia's death has been suspended until the outcome of those proceedings."

In a statement Olivia’s parents, Nigel and Paula Burt said: "We welcome the decision by Durham County Council to charge Stonegate Pub Company with four health and safety offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

"Four long years after Olivia’s death, we now await the outcome of the health and safety prosecution. We do not understand how our only child died on a night out with friends."

Ms Burt, from Milford on Sea, was head girl at her school, Bournemouth School for Girls, and represented Great Britain in sailing. 

She was a first-year student studying Natural Sciences at Durham University.

Olivia’s parents, Nigel and Paula Burt have founded a charity, Olivia Inspires, "to allow their daughter’s spirit to live on by helping disadvantaged young people in the New Forest".

Visit the charity's website here: www.oliviainspires.org.uk."

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