House gas safety plea after off-campus death

A JUDGE urged all universities to ensure registered student accommodation had gas-safety certificates after fining two men who created "a veritable deathtrap" for students. Judge Denis Orde said that had the law allowed he would have jailed gasfitter Edgar Maddison and Graham Williams, joint owners of the house where Durham University student Anne Brennan, 19, died in November 1995. Williams was fined Pounds 10,000 after admitting failing to ensure the boiler was properly maintained and checked. Maddison was fined Pounds 4,000 after admitting failing to provide adequate ventilation.