Goodmayes Hospital ward manager at Old Bailey over death

Benjamin Aninakwa is charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of patients on Hepworth Ward. 

The first charge alleges he failed to take reasonable steps to remove a “means of suicide” or provide an “adequate level of care and supervision” for Alice Figueiredo, who died at the mental health facility in Redbridge in July 2015. 

Aninakwa, 52, of St Francis Way, Grays, Essex, was a ward manager at Goodmayes Hospital at the time of the alleged offences. 

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation following Alice’s death. 

Alice Figueiredo who died at Goodmayes Hospital (Image: PA)

North East London NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, was also charged with corporate manslaughter and an offence under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees. 

Aninakwa and representatives of the trust appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday (November 1) for a hearing before Judge Rebecca Trowler KC. 

The defendants were not asked to enter pleas to the charges and the judge set an eight-week trial from October 28 next year before Judge Richard Marks at the Old Bailey. 

A plea and case management hearing will take place on May 24 next year. 

Aninakwa was granted continued conditional bail ahead of the next hearing in the case.