Hiya, could someone please clarify something for me. I am struggling to understand one aspect of the case - is the section 37 charge the common law charge i.e. the common law manslaughter charge? And is common law an aspect of criminal law? For some reason I just don't get it and i am confusing myself and probably all of you too!

I assumne from the title of the thread that you are referring to the case against Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd, which is the first charge under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 but is is most definitely NOT the 'first corporate manslaughter case'. The section 37 charge is under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974, so NO it isn't a common law charge and nor is the charge of manslaughter in THIS case a common law manslaughter charge but a charge under the act I have quoted above. Hope that helps.