One of three Warwickshire fire service officers charged with the manslaughter of four firefighters in 2007 has been acquitted five weeks into his trial at Stafford Crown Court.
The jury were directed by the judge to acquit Paul Simmons. The trials of two others, Adrian Ashley and Timothy Woodward, are continuing. Both deny manslaughter by gross negligence.
Four firefighters died in the fire at a vegetable packing plant in Atherstone on Stour, Warwickshire in 2007.