Gambler cleared in bet row death case

Jan 6 2009 by Hilary Clixby, The Journal

A GAMBLER has been cleared of killing a County Durham bookmaker who died from heart failure after a row over a late bet.

Trevor Hall was due to stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday accused of the manslaughter of 52-year-old Jeffrey Hilland.

But the charge was dropped after the prosecution conceded it could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the heart condition which triggered Mr Hilland’s death had occurred after Hall tried to hit him.

Prosecutor Chris Knox said the evidence showed there might have been four or five minutes before the dispute became physical and Hall threw a punch.

“It was certainly the whole of this incident that caused the death, but it cannot be said for sure it wasn’t caused by the earlier period of the episode, before there was an unlawful act,” he said.

“We cannot bring a prosecution that is fatally flawed.”

The confrontation happened in the Pagebet betting shop in Front Street, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, last June when manager Mr Hilland refused to allow Hall to place a late bet on a greyhound race.

A dispute followed and Hall – who was more than three times over the drink-drive limit – hit out at Mr Hilland, who collapsed at the till.

Mr Hilland, of South Moor, near Stanley, was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, where he died four days later. The father of three had worked in the betting industry for more than 25 years.

Hall, 37, of Hilda Terrace, Chester-le-Street, denied manslaughter but yesterday admitted a charge of affray arising from the same incident.

He was remanded on conditional bail after sentence was adjourned until February 2 for a probation report. Judge David Hodson warned him: “The fact the court is ordering a pre-sentence report and granting you bail does not indicate the nature of the sentence you will receive.

“All sentencing options – of course including custody – will be open to me when I deal with you on February 2.”

Members of Mr Hilland’s family were at court for the hearing, but declined to comment on the outcome of the case.

His daughter Toni Hilland, 24, had previously spoken of their devastation, describing him as a much-loved man they would miss terribly.

In a statement issued after the hearing, Chris Enzor, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Durham, said: “After careful review of the evidence, including detailed pathology reports, it became clear it would be impossible to prove in court exactly what triggered Mr Hilland’s fatal heart failure.

“For us to continue with the manslaughter prosecution we would have to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt that it was the physical assault rather than the earlier argument between Hall and Mr Hilland that caused the heart failure.

“This has been, understandably, a very difficult time for Mr Hilland’s family and our thoughts are with them.”