A railway worker has been ordered to appear before a court after an 89-year-old passenger suffered head injures when she fell off the platform.
Merseyrail train guard Martin Zee, 32, faces a charge of endangering railway passengers by wilful omission or neglect, which can mean up to two years in jail if he is found guilty.
The passenger also suffered four broken ribs after losing her balance while trying to board the train at Wirral’s Hamilton Square station as the doors were closing, falling between the carriage and platform edge.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Zee will appear at Liverpool magistrates’ court on January 28.
The RMT railway workers’ union, which is paying Zee’s legal fees, previously criticised the decision to bring charges against him.
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The union said Zee was cleared by a Merseyrail safety probe after the incident in July last year.
RMT North West organiser John Tilley said: “Martin and his family are devastated. However, they have been heartened by the messages of support they have received from all over the UK.
“He didn’t see the woman because he was shutting the doors. She went to the doors as they were closing and tried to jump through, got knocked off balance and fell.
“The safety inquiry was clear – he didn’t and couldn’t have seen the woman. This has knocked him for six and he will deny the charge.”
The CPS said in a statement there was enough evidence and it was in the public interest to issue a court summons.
It added: “Criminal proceedings are active and Mr Zee has the right to a fair trial, therefore, it is extremely important that there should be no commentary or reporting which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/