Home / Crime and Justice / Cow death trial: Couple pleads not guilty
Cow death trial: Couple pleads not guilty
18 Jun
Summary
- A woman died after being trampled by a cow in a field.
- The owners of the cow have pleaded not guilty to safety charges.
- Their trial is scheduled for December 2027.
In Leicestershire, a couple has entered a plea of not guilty to charges concerning public safety after a fatal incident involving their cows. Rebekah Morris, aged 29, lost her life on July 9, 2022, when she was trampled by a cow while walking her dog in fields near Littlethorpe.
An inquest held in 2024 determined that post-mortem examinations revealed abdominal injuries consistent with a large, heavy creature and noted hoofprints on the victim's chest. The owners, Marika and Mark Hutton, were charged under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Their trial is slated for December 13, 2027, at Leicester Crown Court. The Health and Safety Executive, prosecuting the case, alleges that the couple, while self-employed and farming a field accessible to the public, failed to ensure the safety of their activities. This failure allegedly exposed members of the public, including Ms. Morris, to significant risks from cattle, particularly those with calves nearby.
