Charges on coalmine fatality

Charges have been laid in the Greymouth District Court over the death of coalminer Robert McGowan at the Tillers Mine near Greymouth five months ago.

Mr McGowan, 39, died on March 8 when the mine was flooded by water from nearby abandoned workings.

The Department of Labour said yesterday that three individuals and a company now faced a total of 13 charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and associated mining regulations.