Oswestry skatepark tragedy: Man denies perverting the course of justice
A man has pleaded not guilty to accusations of perverting the course of justice after a death at a skate park near Oswestry.
Matthew Jones, 20, from Johnstown, near Wrexham, collapsed in the basement at the Academy Skatepark in Rednal, near Oswestry, in October 2014.
Crispin Wrigley, of Cabin Lane, Oswestry, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.
He is accused of deliberately failing to tell police about the existence of the basement between October 31, 2014, and November 4, 2014, and of cleaning it during the early stages of their investigation.
Wrigley spoke only to confirm his name and plead not guilty to the charge in a brief hearing.
The 39-year-old was bailed and will stand trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court on September 26.
The court heard the trial is expected to last a week.
Mr Jones died in the early hours of November 1 after he was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital when he fell ill.
He had gone to a party with friends to celebrate his birthday attending a Halloween party at the Academy Skate Park.
Mr Jones, who was known as Matty, went to Ysgol y Grango, and was an apprentice plumber.
He worked for the Holt Lodge Hotel in Wrexham. He was a talented footballer who played for Rhos Aelwyd Football Club.
His parents, Geoff and Andrea Jones, were quick to pay tribute to their son.
Mrs Jones said her son was a happy lad, always smiling.
"That is how we will remember him," she said at the time.
"We could never shout at him because he just used to laugh at us and we would end up just laughing with him.
"The house is just so quiet without him. We are going to miss him so much.
"He was just such a happy-go-lucky lad and nothing bothered him, he never let anything bother him. Matthew always went to parties and the last one he is going to is his own."
