No new inquest to be held in Berryman case

The Solicitor-General has decided against ordering a second coroner's inquest into a 1994 fatal bridge collapse on the farm of Keith and Margaret Berryman.

A bridge on the Berrymans' King Country property collapsed in 1994, killing a beekeeper.

Occupational Safety and Health launched a court case against the Berrymans. It failed, but the couple got into serious debt repairing the bridge -- leading to bankruptcy and the loss of their farm.

They have sought compensation for their losses for several years and also sought a second coroner's inquest.

Attorney General Michael Cullen sought a report on the issue from the Solicitor General in April.

Today he released the report.

"The Solicitor-General has concluded that it would not be in the interests of justice to order a new inquest or to apply to the High Court for an order that there be a further inquest," he said.

- NZPA