Charged with manslaughter

An Mqabba man was yesterday charged with the manslaughter of a 55-year-old man who died in an explosion at a fireworks factory four months ago.

Benjamin Farrugia, 53, pleaded not guilty to involuntarily causing the death of Godwin Debono on April 24 and failing to obtain a licence for the manufacture of fireworks in a factory situated in an unused quarry in the limits of Ta' Kandja.

He also pleaded not guilty to keeping over five grammes of explosive without a licence at the factory when it was under his control.

Farrugia was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm500.