M5 deaths: Tony and Pamela Adams family 'devastated'
Family members of a Newport couple killed in a crash on the M5 motorway have said they are "devastated" after a fireworks contractor was cleared of breaching health and safety laws.
A judge at Bristol Crown court told the jury to find Geoffrey Counsell not guilty.
Mr Justice Simon ruled Mr Counsell had "no case to answer" following an application from the defendant's barrister at the halfway point in the trial.
He said the prosecution's case was "heavily weighted" on "hindsight" and there was not sufficient evidence to show that Mr Counsell ought to have foreseen that smoke from the display could have drifted and mixed with fog to create thick smog.
Tony and Pamela Adams were among seven people killed in the crash two years ago.
Mr Counsell's solicitor spoke after the case, as did Mr and Mrs Adams's daughter Elaine.
Jordan Davies reports for BBC Wales Today.
10 Dec 2013
- From the section Wales