Coventry City Football Club will not face prosecution over the death of steward Ron Reeves following a blunder by the city council.

A judge at Warwick Crown Court has ruled that there was an “abuse of process” in the way the case was brought.

He said that the correct procure had not been followed and the case could not be allowed to continue.

Mr Reeves, aged 55, of Northfields, Birmingham, was crushed to death by the Arsenal team bus shortly before a Premier League clash at Highfield Road in October 1998.

An investigation into the circumstances of the accident by Environment Health Officers led to a decision to prosecute the club for five breaches of health and safety regulations with regard to employee safety.

But the charges have now been dismissed because of the technicality.

The ruling was made after a four-day hearing because the city council had not asked the views of its officer responsible for spectator safety before taking the decision to prosecute.

Barristers representing Coventry City FC were able to argue that if councillors had heard his views they might not have decided to press charges.

Environmental Health Manager Geoff Makin said the defence was able to argue this regardless of what the officer's opinions were.

The judge ruled that the correct procedure for the council bringing prosecutions had not been followed and threw out the two charges that were due to be heard before a jury before it had been sworn.

Three other charges are on the file but are unlikely to be heard.

Hundreds of fans witnessed the incident and the Arsenal team players were on the coach at the time of the crash.

More than £17,000 was raised in a memorial fund, which was passed to Mr Reeves’ family.

Fellow stewards donated a proportion of their fee from the next home game and fans and clubs from all over the country contributed.

SEE: [31 OCT 98]  STEWARD DIES AT HIGHFIELD ROAD 
SEE :[30 DEC 98]  £17,000 FOR RON REEVES MEMORIAL FUND 
   

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