A woman accused of causing the deaths of four people during a paddleboarding expedition in Pembrokeshire has appeared in court. Nerys Lloyd faces four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act following an incident on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest in October 2021 which claimed the lives of Morgan Rogers, Paul O’Dwyer, Nicola Wheatley, and Andrea Powell.
Lloyd – the former owner of Salty Dog, the company operating the trip – appeared in Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (January 7) where her barrister Owen Williams asked she not be arraigned and that no pleas be taken. The barrister told the court applications for legal aid in the case had been refused by the Legal Aid Authority and a further application was now being made. He said should the further application also be refused “all options” as far as funding is concerned are being explored. The barrister requested a two-week adjournment for funding to be arranged.
(L-R) Morgan Rogers, Paul O’Dwyer, Nicola Wheatley, Andrea Powell
(Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)
Judge Paul Thomas KC said it was in the interests of all parties that the matter progress as quickly as possible and said he was anxious to have a trial – if there is to be a trial – in the autumn of 2025. He said any trial would likely be before a High Court judge. The case was adjourned to January 21 with Judge Thomas apologising to family members in court that more progress could not be made.
Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, of Jersey Quay, Aberavon, Port Talbot was readmitted to unconditional bail until the next hearing. Mr O’Dwyer, aged 42, from Port Talbot, Ms Rogers, aged 24, from Merthyr Tydfil, and 40-year-old Ms Wheatley, from Pontarddulais, all died at the scene of the incident while Ms Powell, aged 41, from Bridgend, died in hospital six days later.
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