Thomas Cook pair to face retrial over children's holiday deaths

Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her six-year-old brother Robert, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, died after a faulty boiler leaked gas into their bungalow on the Greek island in October 2006.

Thomas Cook employees Richard Carson, 28, and Nicola Gibson, 26, were charged in connection with the deaths but were cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this month.

Today, Thomas Cook said it believes Mr Carson, a customer affairs executive, and Ms Gibson, a holiday representative, will face a retrial alongside eight Greeks, who were also involved in the original trial.

It is believed an appeal by prosecutors against the verdicts was upheld and a new trial may take place next year.

Prosecutors were reported to have decided that "vital court evidence had been ignored by the judges" and guilty verdicts called for by court prosecutor Maria Tataki had been largely ignored.

During the lengthy court case at Corfu Town courthouse, judges heard that carbon monoxide fumes at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia leaked into the bungalow from an outhouse next door.

Christi and Bobby were on a half-term holiday with their father, Neil Shepherd, and his partner, Ruth Beatson, who were both left in a coma as a result of the accident but survived.

Mr Carson and Ms Gibson were charged alongside nine Greeks with manslaughter by negligence in relation to the children and causing bodily injury by negligence to Mr Shepherd and Ms Beatson.

Speaking after the pair were found not guilty, Thomas Cook UK & Ireland chief executive Pete Constanti said: "We have always maintained that this tragic accident was the result of a unique set of circumstances, none of which could be the responsibility of the company or Richard Carson and Nicola Gibson.

"We believe that they should never have formed part of this court case."

He said the "thorough and robust trial" had confirmed the innocence of his staff, adding: "Both individuals are exemplary members of our team and we are pleased that they have now been fully vindicated."

Commenting on the retrial, Mr Shepherd told the BBC: "Happy is not the right word. We should not be in this position."