A court in Corfu has heard that two children who died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty boiler while on holiday might have been saved had tour company staff checked equipment in the accommodation more frequently.

ITN News reports that seven-year-old Christianne Shepherd and her six-year-old brother, Robert from Wakefield in West Yorkshire died in their holiday bungalow in Corfu in October 2006, after a gas boiler leaked gas into the apartment.

A total of nine Greek citizens are also on trial over the children’s deaths at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel in Gouvia, including the hotel manager George Chrysikopoulos.

The children’s father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson were left in a coma but survived.

The holiday representatives in charge of the accommodation on behalf of the family’s travel agent – Thomas Cook employees Richard Carson, 28, and Nicola Gibson, 26 – are facing charges of manslaughter by negligence in relation to the children; as well as charges of causing bodily injury by negligence to Mr Shepherd and Ms Beatson.

The District Attorney Maria Tataki in Corfu told the court in Corfu Town that, had the Thomas Cook employees realised gas was being used in the bungalows, the tour operator could have carried out further inspections that might have saved the lives of both children.

A verdict in the trial is expected this week.

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