Four men to be charged with unlawful act manslaughter over man’s death

Four men will be charged with unlawful act manslaughter over the death of a fdather after he was pinned down oin the pavement by security guards. 

Jack Barnes, 29, from Longhill, died in 2016 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Manchester Victoria Station where he was held down by four Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) after allegedly being caught smoking inside the station.

He was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness and died seven weeks later in December. 

Paul Fogarty, 50, Brian Gartside, 59, Stephen Rowlands, 67, and Matthew Sellers, 29, who were staff members subcontracted by Metrolink at the time, are to be charged with unlawful act manslaughter. 

Rowlands will also be charged with a single offence of perverting the course of justice relating to a witness statement, CPS added.  

A court ruled in 2021 that the father from east Hull was ‘unlawfully killed’ after he said he couldn’t breathe seven times as guards pinned him down on the ground. 

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, today said: ‘The CPS has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge four men following the death of Jack Barnes in 2016.

‘Mr Barnes died on 2 December 2016 following an incident in Manchester city centre on 11 October 2016.

‘Paul Fogarty, 50, Brian Gartside, 59, Stephen Rowlands, 67, and Matthew Sellers, 29, who were staff members subcontracted by Metrolink at the time, are to be charged with unlawful act manslaughter.

‘Mr Rowlands will also be charged with a single offence of perverting the course of justice relating to a witness statement.

‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.

‘It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’