Judge rejects attempt to overturn inquest verdict on Stockport scout’s death
Judge rejects attempt to overturn inquest verdict on Stockport scout’s death
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Scout leaders had launched judicial review over verdict of unlawful killing of Ben Leonard, 16, who fell from cliff on expedition. A high court judge has rejected an attempt by a scout leader and an assistant to overturn the findings of an inquest jury that concluded they were responsible for the unlawful killing of a 16-year-old boy who fell from a cliff during an expedition.
Ben Leonard from Stockport, Greater Manchester, became separated from his group during a hike in north Wales and fell about 60m (200ft) from a ledge, suffering a fatal head injury. At the end of a 32-day inquest in Manchester in February 2024, the jury reached a unanimous conclusion of unlawful killing by the scout leader, Sean Glaister, and the assistant leader, Mary Carr, contributed to by the neglect of the Scouts Association.
Ben’s parents, Jackie and David Leonard, were dismayed when the two leaders launched a judicial review and expressed relief on Thursday when the judge, Mr Justice Fordham, said the jury had been entitled to conclude Ben had been unlawfully killed. Fordham said: “Unlawful killing is a proper conclusion for a jury to reach, where that conclusion is justified on the evidence.”.
He continued: “The inquest is entitled to get to the bottom of the facts. There is a responsibility, and a public interest, in ensuring that the relevant facts are fully, fairly and fearlessly investigated and exposed to public scrutiny.”. The Leonards said: “We are relieved it is now over and the judicial review failed. We need to try to move forward now but with Ben in our hearts always.”.
