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Essex lorry deaths: Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of 39 people found dead in refrigerated truck

A lorry driver has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 39 people who were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Essex last year.

Maurice Robinson entered his plea at the Old Bailey after the bodies of 29 men, 2 boys, and 8 women, all Vietnamese nationals, were discovered in the town of Grays in October by emergency services.

The 25-year-old, from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property but denied a further charge of transferring criminal property..

The hearing was conducted virtually with most lawyers and court reporters attending by Skype. Robinson appeared via video link alongside four co-defendants.

More follows…