Plea for dustcart death witnesses

Stephane Aineto, 28, was run over by a 7.5 tonne Sita rubbish truck going the wrong way down East Street, Brighton, in July 2002.

On Monday, the High Court quashed a coroner's verdict that Mr Aineto, of Upper Lewes Road, Brighton, died accidentally and ordered a new inquest with a jury.

Yesterday his family, who travelled from Toulouse in France for the hearing, called for two witnesses to come forward.

Karim Mehadhebi, 37, Mr Aineto's brother, said: "We want to hear from a witness who told Sussex Ambulance Service Stephane appeared to stumble and fall before the rear wheels of the cart.

"If we could find that witness it would be tremendously helpful.

"Also a second witness, a lady in a her 30s, seen with Stephane outside the Pavilion Tavern pub, which is just around the corner from where he died.

"She may be able to back up another witness who said Stephane was lucid and clear before his death and not drunk."

Ron Trussell, who has acted as the Aineto family's spokesman during their fight for a judicial review, said Monday's court victory had left the family with mixed emotions.

He said: "There is a strange feeling of anti-climax because we have just arrived at another beginning.

"We are fighting a verdict which says Stephane's death would not have happened had he not been drunk when we believe it would be more sensible to say Stephane would not have died had the dustcart not been driving the wrong way down the street."

Mr Aineto, a porter at Brighton College, had been drinking with friends before he died under the back wheel of the truck.

At the initial inquest, Brighton and Hove Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said: "I conclude he died as a result of an accident. I believe if he had not been intoxicated it would not have happened."

But this week Lord Justice Dyson overturned Mrs Hamilton-Deeley's verdict and said she was wrong not to call a jury for the original inquest.