Man Charged with Manslaughter After Deadly Newcastle House Explosion That Killed Seven-Year-Old Boy

Reece Galbraith, 33, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and the production of cannabis following a devastating house explosion in Newcastle that claimed the lives of two people, including a seven-year-old boy, Northumbria Police announced, reported by BBC.

The explosion, which occurred in Violet Close in the Benwell and Elswick area of Newcastle in October, resulted in the tragic death of young Archie York, who was described as a “lovely lad.” Archie died at the scene, where the explosion caused a massive blaze, destroying two terraced homes. The scale of the destruction prompted an overwhelming emergency services response.

Jay Laws, another victim of the blast, also died as a result of the explosion. Galbraith is scheduled to appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he will face the charges related to the incident.

Three other men, aged in their 30s and 50s, were arrested in connection with the explosion and remain on police bail as further investigations are carried out.

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith of Northumbria Police expressed the devastation caused by the incident, saying, “This was a truly tragic incident in which two people died”, reported by the Telegraph. She added that following the ongoing investigation, Galbraith had been charged. DCI Smith urged the public to avoid speculating about the case, both online and in the community, as this could jeopardize the proceedings.

“Our enquiries also continue, and we would further ask anyone with information who is yet to come forward to contact us as soon as possible,” Smith added.

The explosion has deeply shaken the local community, and authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.