THE creator of an inflatable artwork that blew away, killing two people, offered no evidence in his defence against manslaughter charges yesterday.
Dreamspace artist Maurice Agis, 77, did not enter the witness box at Newcastle Crown Court at the conclusion of the prosecution case against him, three weeks after it began.
The jury of six men and six women was then sent out while the legal teams debated a point of law before trial judge Mrs Justice Cox.
Agis, an artist from Bethnal Green, east London, denies two counts of manslaughter and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Liverpool-based promotions company Brouhaha International Limited admitted a breach of Section 21 of the Act.
The 50m by 50m PVC creation was on a tour in July 2006 and was visiting Chester-le-Street when a gust of wind flipped it into the air, killing Claire Furmedge, 38, and Elizabeth Collings, 68.
