A JURY has been shown footage of a farm worker falling and sustaining fatal injuries during the trial of a Hampshire farmer accused of manslaughter.

Philip Tickner, 63, of Upper Lanham, Old Alresford, is charged with manslaughter through gross negligence over the death of Philip France, 57, on June 7, 2021. He denies the charge.

The prosecution played CCTV footage to show jurors how Mr France fell through a skylight while he was working with two colleagues to dismantle the fibreglass roof of a shed at Tickner's Upper Lanham Farm.

READ MORE: Philip Tickner manslaughter trial begins in earnest

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

Mark Watson KC, prosecuting, paused and replayed the moment when Mr France "disappeared" from the roof.

Speaking at Winchester Crown Court earlier today, October 4, Mr Watson said: “Tickner did not put in place any precautions whatsoever to prevent or mitigate [Mr France’s fall]. He was present while the workers were walking across this roof. To compound matters, Mr France was a farm labourer who had no significant background, experience, or competence in roofing work.”

As well as Mr France's fall, the jury saw Tickner using a forklift to move straw bales into the shed as a safety precaution in the aftermath of the incident.

The jury also heard a phone call from one of Mr France's colleagues to emergency services.

The colleague said: "The person’s fallen through a roof onto a concrete floor. He’s unconscious. I don’t want to move him."

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He also said he was "not 100 per cent convinced he’s still breathing".

After the fall, Mr France was taken to hospital with serious injuries, where he died around a week later.

The trial is presided over by Mrs Justice Eady. Defending is Malcolm Galloway, assisted by Lucy Wright.