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Whakaari/White Island Owners Fail To Get Charges Dismissed

The owners of Whakaari/White Island failed to get the charges leveled against them over the 2019 eruption dismissed or stayed.


A stay in proceedings is a ruling by the court that halts the further legal process.


Andrew, Peter, and James Buttle applied for a judicial review nearly two weeks ago.


It concerned a pre-trial decision from Judge Evanglos Thomas, who had dismissed the Buttles' claim of an unfair trial.


In the Auckland High Court, Justice Jane Anderson said the threshold for judicial review for a pre-trial criminal ruling was not met, and the application was dismissed.


"This is not a truly exceptional case justifying intervention," Justice Anderson said.


She also ruled that WorkSafe is entitled to costs.


47 people were on the island when it erupted on December 9th, 2019.


22 people were killed, and another 25 were seriously injured.


The Buttle brothers and their company, Whakaari Management Limited, are among six parties currently on trial in the Auckland District Court.


The six parties face charges of alleged health and safety breaches before the eruption.



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