The
Department of Labour's court case against the Pike River Coal company,
its chief executive Peter Whittall and one of its contractors has been
adjourned for two months.
A procedural hearing was held in Greymouth District Court on Tuesday, with the defendants represented by their lawyers.
The case was adjourned until March 27 for the two sides to file discovery documents.
The
department laid 25 Health and Safety Act charges against the Pike River
Coal company, Mr Whittall and drilling company Valley Longwall
International in November, a year after the deaths of 29 men in
explosions in the Pike River mine.
Mr Whittall is facing 12
charges and says he will defend them. Pike River Coal is facing 10
charges and VLI Drilling three charges.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $250,000.
The
third phase of the Pike River Royal Commission of Inquiry - looking at
what happened at the mine - starts in Greymouth next week.
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