The trial of two Thomas Cook reps and nine Greek defendants over the deaths of two children in Corfu was due to restart today with testimony from the remainder of the 36 witnesses. The latest witness statements, from hotel staff, including a receptionist and a barman, and local gas engineers and safety officials, comes after emotional scenes last week when the children’s mother Sharon Wood gave evidence. Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her six-year-old brother Robert died during a half-term holiday in 2006 with their father Neil Shepherd and partner Ruth Beatson at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia. Thomas Cook has said the tragedy was not the fault of its two employees, Richard Carson, 28, and Nicola Gibson, 26, and that it believes the court will fully vindicate them. The pair are now not likely to make their defence until after the long Greek Easter break, although one day next week (March 17) has been scheduled for the hearing and possibly one day the following week. There had been concerns the public-sector strikes in Greece this week would disrupt the trial, but Thomas Cook officials were heading out to Corfu on Wednesday expecting the trial to recommence. Last week, Wood, who was not on the holiday when the tragedy happened, told the court she laid the blame at the door of the operator. This week the Travel Shorthand blog in a post called “worrying time for tour operators” raised the issue of how liable tour operators should be for overseas hotels they contract, and the lack of European-wide health and safety standards.
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