Prosecutors say in court documents that evidence about the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster is a necessary part of the government’s criminal case against former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports prosecutors made the filing in a brief filed in U.S. District Court.
The filing says jurors will need to hear about the 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners to understand charges that Blankenship lied to securities regulators and to investors about Massey’s safety practices.
Blankenship’s attorneys had previously asked that evidence from the mine disaster be excluded from the jury trial, which is set to begin in October in Charleston.
Blankenship has been charged with conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards.
The indictment says hid those violations from government inspectors.
Related:
- Ex-Massey CEO’s Lawyers: Keep West Virginia Mine Blast Out of Criminal Trial
- Massey Ex-CEO Blankenship Faces Criminal Charges Over 2010 Mine Explosion
- Blankenship Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Linked to Massey Mine Explosion
Topics Virginia
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Oaktree’s Deal to Buy A-Cap Insurer Crumbles, Spawning New Talks 
Florida AG Says His Office Investigating ‘Anti-Public Adjuster’ Endorsements in Policies 
Reuters: DXC in Advanced Talks to Sell Insurance Software Unit for $2.4 Billion 
Former Trident Reciprocal CEO Ordered to Pay $468K in Attorney and Arbitrator Fees 
