Man admits manslaughter after 'drugs lab' explosion kills seven-year-old Archie York
by Rob Kennedy · ChronicleLiveA huge house explosion in Benwell that killed two people including a seven-year-old boy was the result of a dangerous drug lab making cannabis gummies using butane gas canisters.
Reece Galbraith had previously denied the manslaughter of schoolboy Archie York and 35-year-old Jason Laws and was due to stand trial next month over the blast at Violet Close, in Benwell, Newcastle, which happened on October 16 last year.
However the 33-year-old, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, has now changed his plea to guilty to two counts of manslaughter and producing cannabis and being concerned in the supply of cannabis, during an appearance at Newcastle Crown Court. He was further remanded in custody and told he faces a lengthy prison sentence.
Judge Paul Sloan KC told Galbraith, who appeared in court on a video-link from prison: "The sentencing hearing has been fixed in your case and is listed on May 14. You will be produced at court in person on that date.
"You should understand, the fact I'm adjourning sentence and directing the preparation of a pre-sentence report is not an indication of the sentence that will be imposed. As you will be aware, you face a significant immediate custodial sentence.
"The length of that sentence will be determined by Mr Justice Cotter at the sentencing hearing in May. You will be remanded in custody pending sentence."
No details of what happened were revealed during the brief hearing. The court heard Galbraith has pleaded guilty on a basis which is not disputed by the prosecution.
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Archie and his family were asleep at their home, on Violet Close, when the explosion happened during the early hours of October 16. His mum, Katherine Errington, was in one room with her new baby Finley, while Archie and his dad, Robbie, 27, slept in another. Katherine and Robbie were taken to hospital for treatment, while little Finley was uninjured.
Katherine told ChronicleLive this week: "It's just been awful. It's like we went to sleep that night and and we haven't woken up from that nightmare. It's like we are living in a nightmare.
"As a parent and as a mother you try your best to keep your children safe, and that was took out of my hands. When they are in the house, that's supposed to be the safest place."
Paying tribute to her son, Katherine described Archie as a "happy" little boy who loved playing with his friends. She added: "Archie was a very cheeky little boy, he did light up the room everywhere.
"He loved playing on Fortnite, he loved playing outside with his friends and he loved going to school. He was just a happy lad."
Katherine said that in the weeks before he died, the Bridgewater Primary School pupil had taken to his new role as a big brother with pride. "He was so looking forward to to being a big brother," she said. "When I was pregnant he kept saying; 'When is the baby coming?'
"He just loved looking after Finley. He loved changing his nappies and bathing him. He was very hands on. It's just so sad I can't watch them grow up together. That's just been ripped away."
Archie was finally laid to rest in January. following a Marvel-themed service at Newcastle's West Road Crematorium. In lieu of flowers, his family invited donations to be made to the Newcastle Hospitals Charity. They have since donated almost £700 to the Great North Children's Hospital in Archie's memory.
After the pleas, Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a truly tragic case in which two people died, including young Archie who had his whole life ahead of him.
“Our thoughts remain with his family, friends and all those who have been left heartbroken by what has happened. At a time of unimaginable tragedy, the community has come together to support each other and provide the information we needed for such a complex investigation.
“The tireless work of all involved left Reece Galbraith with little choice but to plead guilty to all charges in the face of overwhelming evidence.”
She added: “The process of creating ‘cannabis shatter’ and other drugs in this way is exceptionally dangerous. The truly devastating impact of this case should be enough to make anyone doing this to think again.
“We would also urge anyone who has any information about the production of drugs to come forward so we can take action – you could save someone’s life.”
Christopher Atkinson, Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Archie York, whose tragic death last year shocked the community of Benwell. It is clear from the evidence in this case that the explosion which took Archie’s life was caused by a build-up of butane in the address used by Jason Laws, who also died in the blast. That address had been the site of an illegal operation producing a highly concentrated form of cannabis, through a dangerous process involving the use of large quantities of flammable butane gas.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with Northumbria Police to build a robust case against Reece Galbraith for his involvement in that operation, which has been instrumental in securing his guilty pleas to all charges against him.
“We hope that today’s convictions bring some measure of comfort to the family of Archie York, at what must remain an incredibly difficult time for them.”
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