A HOUSING association and a lift company are to face charges in court over the tragic death of five-year-old Alexys Brown from Weymouth.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said that following an investigation it will be prosecuting Synergy Housing Limited, Aster Property Limited, and lift firm Orona Limited for alleged breaches of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Little Alexys died after becoming trapped between a lift and a ceiling at her Weymouth home in 2015.

The Echo reported in March how a coroner heard that police inquiries into the death of Alexys had concluded without anyone being charged.

But a HSE investigation was underway and the organisation was planning to “invite people for interview under caution before the summer.”

Those attending the pre-inquest review in March included representatives from The Aster Group Limited – the landlords which arranged for the installation of the lift – and Orona Limited, which were responsible for servicing 
the equipment.

A HSE spokesman said yesterday: “The Health and Safety Executive is prosecuting Synergy Housing Limited, Aster Property Limited, and Orona Limited for breaches of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

“This follows the death of five-year-old Alexys Brown at her family home in Weymouth, on 13 August 2015. The defendants are due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on 16 February 2018.”

Synergy Housing is part of the Aster Group.

The HSE said three separate companies had been charged with one count each under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.

Section 3 of the Act places general duties on employers and the self-employed to conduct their undertakings in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons other than themselves or their employees are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

The HSE said the companies involved had been informed this week of the decision to prosecute. The February date is the first court appearance.

It is anticipated that a full jury inquest into the death will be held once the case is concluded.

Alexys, known as Lexi, was the youngest of three children of Lorraine and Matthew Brown. The family lived at Emmadale Close, where the tragedy occurred.

Alexys’ death prompted an outpouring of grief in the community and flowers and teddies were left outside her home. A fundraising appeal was also launched which raised thousands of pounds for the family.

A spokesperson from Aster, said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on the outcome of the forthcoming legal proceedings before they are concluded.  We continue to co-operate fully with the HSE. The thoughts of everyone at Aster remain with the Brown family during this difficult period. We’ll continue to provide any support to them that we can, for as long as they need it.”