Jury delivers partial verdict in Midfield Meat trial

The jurors met to continue their deliberations on the remaining charge on Wednesday.

The charge of failing to provide a safe working environment alleged the meat processing giant failed to take all practicable steps to have and maintain a system that ensured cattle were assessed and if identified as dangerous, were separated.

During the morning, Judge Michael O'Connell issued a majority verdict direction, meaning a verdict could be agreed to by 11 out of 12 jurors.

However at about 12pm, the Judge accepted the jury had exhausted all endeavours to reach a verdict.

The jurors were dismissed without verdict.

It brings to an end an almost three-week trial in the Warrnambool County Court that heard from a number of witnesses including Midfield boss Dean McKenna.

TUESDAY: Midfield Meat has been found guilty of one of two charges of failing to provide a safe working environment after an employee died of fatal injuries from a bull in 2017.

Jurors in the Warrnambool County Court trial returned the single verdict on Tuesday, after about two days of deliberations.

The charge related to Midfield's failure to have and maintain a system that ensured cattle handlers were conducting a risk assessment that involved identifying an appropriate escape route and ensuring someone else was there to provide assistance in the case of an emergency.

The other charge alleges the meat processing giant failed to take all practicable steps to have and maintain a system that ensured cattle were assessed and if identified as dangerous, were separated.

The court heard the jury was unable to make a decision on the remaining charge but Judge Michael O'Connell ordered them to persevere to reach a unanimous verdict.

The charges related to an incident on December 15, 2017 when long-time Midfield worker Pat Smith, 49, was killed by a large stag (steer/bull with one testicle) while working alone in an enclosed yard at a farm in Dunkeld.

The jury will continue their deliberations this afternoon.

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