Man goes on trial accused of manslaughter following death of son, 3, in tractor incident

A man has gone on trial accused of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of his three-year-old son in a tractor incident.

Neil Speakman, 39, pleaded not guilty after his son, Albie Speakman, was fatally injured in the summer of 2022.

Albie suffered fatal injuries at Speakman's Farm off Bentley Hall Road in the Tottington area of Bury at about 12.45pm on July 16. Today (Monday) a jury was sworn in ahead of his trial at Minshull Street Crown Court.

After the jury was sworn in on Monday afternoon, they were told Mr Speakman had denied the allegation that he unlawfully killed Albie by gross negligence.

Mr Speakman, wearing red lumberjack shirt, watched proceedings from the dock.

The judge, Mr Justice Bourne KC, warned the jurors not to conduct their own research. He told them: "Don't make any enquiries of your own about anything you have already heard about. This case will be tried by you by what you hear and see in this courtroom and nothing else. You will hear a great deal more about this."

The jurors were sent home and John Elvidge KC is due to open the the case for the prosecution on Tuesday morning.