No corporate manslaughter charge against council over park accident case

No corporate manslaughter charge will be brought against the London Borough of Tower Hamlets over a case in which a child died in a park accident.

The Crown Prospection Service has told the council it will not be charged after five-year-old Alexia Walenkaki died in Mile End Park when she was playing on a swing and a tree collapsed on her.

Her mother set up a petition on the change.org website to try to secure legal aid after this was refused when she planned to take action against the council.

She said there: “Alexia suffered head injuries and died instantly.

“Tower Hamlets Council who are responsible for the maintenance of the park did not do a maintenance check on the park for 21 months. If they had done so I would be sitting here with my daughter today. Till this day there has been no apology from the council whatsoever.”

The petition attracted 11,117 supporters.

A Tower Hamlets spokesperson said: “It is correct that the CPS has made a decision not to bring charges against the council for corporate manslaughter. 

“The matter is progressing in the coroner’s court and it would be inappropriate for the council to comment further in respect of an on-going matter.”

Mark Smulian