Dreamspace jury unable to convict Maurice Agis of manslaughter

Feb 26 2009 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

THE mother of Rosie Wright, who touched the hearts of a nation when she survived the Dreamspace horror, said last night she welcomed the conviction of artist Maurice Agis for health and safety breaches.

“At least it shows that there was negligence. At least that has been admitted,” said Penny Wright, of Eastern Avenue, Langley Park, near Durham.

Mrs Wright was talking after the jury into the trial of Agis yesterday failed to reach verdicts on the manslaughter of Claire Furmedge, 38, and Elizabeth Collings, 68 who were killed in the tragedy.

Mrs Wright added: “I cannot really say whether there should be a re-trial. The failure to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charges didn’t really surprise me.”

The Crown Prosecution Service last night said it would make a decision on whether to go for a retrial within the next seven days.

Maurice Agis, 77, faced manslaughter charges at Newcastle Crown Court after his Dreamspace artwork took off at Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, County Durham in 2006.

Three-year-old Rosie had a punctured lung, broken limbs, multiple fractures and head injuries after falling 100ft from the giant Dreamspace inflatable.

Penny suffers from deafness, a back injury and panic attacks after she was hurled 70 feet from it.