British-Romanian man, 43, admits part in plot to bring 39 Vietnamese migrants into Britain

A British-Romanian man accused over the deaths of 39 migrants has admitted being part of a people-smuggling plot ahead of his trial at the Old Bailey.

The Vietnamese victims were found dead inside a lorry container shortly after it arrived in Purfleet, Essex, on a ferry in the early hours of October 23 last year.

Among the 39 men, women and children were 10 teenagers, two of them 15-year-old boys.

Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, and lorry driver Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, are charged with their manslaughter.

The pair are also charged with conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019, along with Valentin Calota, 37, of Birmingham, and Christopher Kennedy, 24, of Co Armagh, Northern Ireland.

On Tuesday, Nica pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge.

He and the other three defendants deny the other charges against them.

Last October, 39 bodies of Vietnamese migrants were found inside the lorry on an industrial estate in Purfleet, Essex

Prosecutors claim Harrison drove the trailer to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge before it sailed to Purfleet in Essex and the bodies were found near the Dartford Crossing.

Nica and Harrison along with Christopher Kennedy, 24, and Valentin Calota, 37, are said to have been linked to an international ring ferrying non-EU citizens into the UK.

Nica continues to deny 39 counts of manslaughter.

Harrison denies 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Kennedy denies conspiring to commit human trafficking and assisting unlawful immigration between 1 May 2018 and 24 October 2019.

Calota denies conspiring to smuggle non-EU nationals into the UK, contrary to immigration law, between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019.

The jury is being sworn with Bill Emlyn-Jones due to open the case for the prosecution later today.

Lorry driver Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, is charged with manslaughter

Earlier this week potential jurors were introduced to the strict Covid-19 arrangements at the Old Bailey before being told their service was ‘particularly important’ during ‘difficult times.’

Using a microphone outside the court: Mr Justice Sweeney told them the trial would last some five to seven weeks.

‘Four men are all charged with conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 2018 and October 2019 and two of them are further charged with 39 offences of manslaughter,

‘Before we begin the process of selecting a panel of potential jurors, I want first to address any concerns you may have about undertaking your responsibilities as jurors during the current pandemic.

‘As you will all understand I’m sure, serving on jury is an important public duty. Trial by jury during difficult times is particularly important.

‘This is a vital part of how we live together in our communities.’

Mr Justice Sweeney said the trial was taking place in exceptional times, adding: ‘Never before with a judge in his full kit addressing the waiting jurors outside as opposed to inside the court.’

The judge said that the jury would deliberate in another large courtroom instead of the traditional jury room, and would need to bring their own food and sanitise their hands before entering the building.

The trial is expected to go on for up to six weeks.