KEY POINTS:
Valma McGowan could face a long wait to see if two men accused of contributing to a mining accident that killed her husband are found responsible. In the meantime, she will keep busy by taking her fight for changes in mining and labour laws to the highest levels.
A negligence case against two men, former Black Reef Mine manager Gary Haddow and an unnamed geologist, concluded in the Greymouth District Court yesterday.
Judge James Weir reserved his decision, which may not be given until next year because of the technical nature of the case.
Haddow and the geologist are accused of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure those working at the Black Reef underground coal mine, near Greymouth, were kept safe.
Miner Robert McGowan, 39, was killed when an adjoining flooded old mine burst through and unleashed a torrent of water and rock into the area where he and Haddow were working in March 2006.
Haddow survived by hanging on to a peg dug into the mine wall. He faces three charges, and the geologist faces one.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine. Black Reef Mine has already pleaded guilty to two similar charges and is yet to be sentenced.
The Department of Labour prosecutor Michael Hargreaves argued in court that the actions of Haddow and the geologist "fell markedly short of what would reasonably be expected of persons in their professions".
Mrs McGowan told the Herald she wanted to see the pair found guilty, but she also had some sympathy for them.
"I do believe they have made mistakes, but I also believe they have been disadvantaged by the system. There were things that were beyond their control."
She planned to keep working for action from the Government on safety laws and would write to the office of the Minister of Labour, where Trevor Mallard has just taken over from Ruth Dyson.
