West Cumbrian Man Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter of Eight-Year-Old Boy

A man from West Cumbria has pleaded not guilty to gross negligence manslaughter following the death of an eight-year-old boy.

Allan Thursby, of Cleator Moor, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court where he entered a formal plea denying the charge. The allegation relates to the death of Jay Cartmell, who suffered fatal injuries in a shooting incident on farmland in the War cop area of Cumbria in September 2024.

The court heard that the case concerns the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, which led to the boy sustaining severe head injuries. Emergency services attended the scene at the time, but the child later died in hospital.

Thursby is accused of unlawfully causing the boy’s death through gross negligence. He has been granted bail while legal proceedings continue.

A trial date has been set for next year, and the case will be reviewed further at a scheduled hearing later this year.

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