Man remanded in custody over deaths of 39 people found dead in lorry in Essex
He was detained by police in Romania
Last updated 31st Oct 2022
A man has appeared in court accused of manslaughter and being part of a conspiracy which led to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals found in a lorry in Essex.
The bodies were discovered in the back of the lorry trailer which had been transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet early on October 23 2019.
Marius Mihai Draghici, 49, was detained by police in Romania in August, and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday accused of being involved.
His name, age and date of birth were confirmed during the hearing.
Draghici is suspected to have been part of a network that co-ordinated immigrants’ illegal journeys to the UK.
He was remanded in custody until November 28th when he will appear at the Old Bailey.
The defendant faces 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.
What happened?
39 Vietnamese migrants - eight women and 31 men - were found dead in the back of a lorry in an industrial estate near Grays in October 2019.
The migrants were stored in the back of the lorry with little ventilation, meaning temperatures inside the truck could reach an unbearable 38 degrees Celsius.