Strong, Ohlmeyer, Burgess and Burgess defend manslaughter charge over alleged unsafe load

The trial against four men alleged to be at the centre of a horror crash that claimed the life of father-of-two Martin Strait near Grafton is underway after four years.

Gregory Burgess leaves Coffs Harbour court, Monday April 19, on the first day of proceedings over the tragic death of Martin Strait.

A trial against four men alleged to be at the centre of a horror crash that claimed the life of father-of-two Martin Strait near Grafton is underway four years after the tragedy.

Mr Strait died from injuries sustained in a horrific crash police will allege was caused when 50 metres of fencing roll came off a truck and struck the Mazda Bravo Mr Strait was driving.

Two other passengers in the vehicle were miraculously unscathed in the crash which happened just after 6pm on August 6, 2021, near Swan Creek Bridge along Big River Way at Swan Creek.

William David Strong leaves Coffs Harbour court on May 19 after the first day of a criminal trial against him.

William David Strong was charged with dangerous driving causing death while driving in a dangerous manner and driving an unsafely loaded vehicle causing death.

Adam Ohlmeyer was charged with being an accessory before the fact to dangerous driving causing death while driving in a dangerous manner, and driving an unsafely loaded vehicle causing death.

Adam Ohlmeyer leaves Coffs Harbour court on Monday May 19 -the first date of a criminal trial where he will defend a manslaughter charge against him.

Both Blake and Gregory Burgess was charged with four counts of failing to ensure safety of transport activities, manslaughter, and directing an unsafely loaded vehicle causing death.

Police will allege in court the men loaded the trailer with steel products including three pallets of coil fencing wire prior to the crash.

Blake Burgess and Gregory Burgess leave Coffs Harbour court on May 19, charged with manslaughter over the death of Martin Strait in 2021.

All four men appeared at Coffs Harbour District Court on Monday and remain on bail.

They have all entered pleas of not guilty.

They will return to court on Tuesday when a jury will be empanelled and the men will be formally arraigned.

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Originally published as Strong, Ohlmeyer, Burgess and Burgess defend manslaughter charge over alleged unsafe load