Three Metrolink-contracted workers found not guilty of manslaughter
Three subcontracted Metrolink workers, accused of manslaughter after a young man died after being pinned down in Manchester, have been cleared
Last updated 18th Feb 2025
Three subcontracted Metrolink workers, accused of manslaughter after a young man died after being pinned down on a Manchester street, have been cleared.
Women supporters of the men, Matthew Sellers, Brian Gartside and Paul Fogarty, broke down in tears in the public gallery when the unanimous verdicts were returned by a Liverpool Crown Court jury.
The jury failed, however, to reach a verdict on former GMP officer Stephen Rowlands, who had been the men’s supervisor, on the count of unlawful killing Jack Barnes.
His case has been adjourned for a week to enable the prosecution to decide whether he should face a re-trial and his bail was renewed.
The jury did acquit him of attempting to pervert the course of justice involving allegedly making a false witness statement.
Sellers, 30, of Heathfield Road, Bury; Fogarty, 51, of Monks Lane, Bolton and Gartside, 50, of Lime Grove, Ramsbottom, Bury, were all discharged from the dock.
Although 28-year-old Mr Barnes, from Hull, was chased through Manchester city centre and detained by the defendants as long ago as October 11, 2026 the CPS only brought the charges in September 2023. This followed an inquest after which there was a review of the evidence.
During the trial, which began four weeks ago, the jury of six men and six women heard that Mr Barnes repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe” while being restrained on the ground for nine minutes outside the Australasia Bar on Deansgate and lost consciousness suffering a cardiac arrest.
Rowlands, now 68, of Wearish Lane, Westhoughton, was recorded on Sellers’ body camera saying to Mr Barnes, “If you struggle I’ll put you to sleep. It won’t kill you, it won’t kill you but you will go to sleep for a while. I’m going to put you out now pal.”
Rowlands, who told the court it had been “a glib throw away comment, a stupid comment,” denied putting him in a choke hold. While he and Mr Fogarty were holding him down he realised he was not well and rolled him over and began CPR until paramedics took over.
Mr Barnes’ heart was restarted but he remained unconscious and died in hospital several weeks later on December 2, 2016.
The court heard that Mr Barnes was chased by the men for nine minutes after he and others had been smoking Spice from a bong on the Metro line and he allegedly assaulted another Metrolink worker.
The chase began after a confrontation outside Victoria Railway station exit during which Rowlands told how Mr Barnes swung a heavy bag towards his head which he deflected with his hand, suffering a broken knuckle.
All four men, whose customer service role included dealing with anti-social behaviour, admitted that they knew of the Metrolink’s ‘Walk Away’ policy which involved avoiding confrontation and physical engagement and not following passengers off the platform.
The victim’s mum Patricia Gerrard watched every day of the case from Hull via video link and she was again present via the link today along with other family members.