Greece charges six people over death of UK children

ATHENS, Nov 3 (Reuters) A Greek prosecutor today filed involuntary manslaughter charges against six people, including a representative of the Thomas Cook travel agency, for the death of two British children holidaying on the island of Corfu.

Autopsies showed the children probably died from carbon monoxide poisoning after fumes from a gas-fired boiler leaked into their hotel bungalow last week through a small hole in the wall.

''The Corfu prosecutor brought charges of involuntary serial manslaughter, attempted involuntary serial manslaughter, causing serious physical injuries and a construction violation against six persons,'' said Corfu police director Dimitris Bineris.

''Justice will now take its course,'' he told reporters.

He said police had handed the investigation file to the prosecutor early today.

Those charged were the hotel manager, the CEO of the company that owns the hotel, a Thomas Cook representative, the hotel's maintenance manager and representatives of the companies that installed the air conditioning and the gas systems.

Neil Shepherd, his children Christianne, 7, and Robert, 6, and his partner Ruth Beatson were found in their bungalow by a maid at the four-star beachfront hotel on Gouvia Bay. They were a few days into their holiday.

The children were dead and their father and Beatson, both in a coma, spent two days in intensive care before recovering.

The tourism ministry has suspended the operating licence of the Louis Corkyra Beach hotel until the official investigation is complete. The hotel said it had closed for the season on October 31.

''If the final findings show the hotel is responsible, the licence will be revoked permanently,'' the ministry said in a statement.

Involuntary manslaughter charges do not necessarily carry a prison sentence, depending on the circumstances.

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