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Moravian mum and daughter are cleared

John Scheerhout
28/ 2/2007

A MUM and daughter spoke of their relief after a judge threw out charges they killed a war hero by haranguing him to death.

Hayley and Hazel Beesley were accused of confronting grandfather Albert Gregory, 79, and his wife Sylvia outside their home in the Fairfield Moravian Settlement in Droylsden

They were alleged to have angrily railed at the Gregorys because of accusations said to have been made against Hayley's 10-year-old son.

Twenty minutes later Mr Gregory collapsed with chest pains and died in hospital.

Hazel, 64, and Hayley, 34, were arrested and charged with manslaughter. But a judge quashed the charges when the pair appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday.

Had the pair been convicted, the case would have made legal history. It would have been the first time anyone had been found guilty, effectively, of haranguing someone to death.

Hayley, a trainee teacher, said: "We are relieved. I'm very, very sorry for Mr Gregory. We did not want that to happen.

"This has been an awful ordeal. I don't feel it was criminal behaviour and we have been made to feel like criminals.

"It was unfortunate that Albert collapsed but in no way do I feel responsible for it."

The clash, which unfolded on 2 November 2005, was the latest in a series of disputes between the two families. Problems had already prompted police to warn the warring factions to stay away from each other

Mr Gregory, a fomer lance corporal involved in the D-Day landings, went in his car to pick up his wife from a flower-arranging club at the Moravian Church.

On their way home along Broadway North, it is alleged they were followed by the Beesleys and an argument ensued.

After they returned home, Mr Gregory collapsed.

Home Office pathologist Dr David Rutherford found Mr Gregory had significant heart disease, but added: "My opinion is that this incident would have been sufficient to cause the release of adrenalin and precipitate a fatal abnormality of heart rhythm."

The Crown argued they were responsible for a public order offence which was both dangerous and posed him a risk of physical harm. But Judge Anthony Gee agreed to throw out the case. He said: "It seems to me there was insufficient evidence to justify these matters going forward."

He said the case had "given rise to proper and real concern" over the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Gregory.

Mr Gregory's son James, 33, said: "We feel bitterly disappointed at what's happened. There's a loophole in the law. He's become so distressed and worried about it he's literally dropped dead."

Mrs Gregory, 74, said: "We wanted justice for Albert. This has left a big hole in the family."

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