UK Firefighter Pleads to Cattle Stampede Death

Posted by: Curt Varone December 17, 2010 0

The UK firefighter who was charged with manslaughter after his siren startled a herd of cattle last year, has pled guilty to lesser charge.

Julian Lawford, a volunteer firefighter from the Devon and Somerset Fire Service, was responding to an alarm on  August 11, 2009, when he came upon a slow moving herd of cattle in the road, being herded by farmer Harold Lee, 75 years old. Lawford sounded his siren, the cattle stampeded and fatally injured Lee.

Lawford was originally charged with manslaughter, but pled guilty to careless driving, death resulting. He will be sentenced next year, but various news sources are indicating he will not face jail time.

The manslaughter charge would have required the prosecution to prove gross negligence or criminal recklessness. There are a number of definitions for such a mental state – but commonly it is said to consist of consciously disregarding a known and substantial risk of harm.

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About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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