Andrew Stocker denies the manslaughter of Ashley Clarke and Scott Cain at Blackmoor Estate
A fruit farm manager denies sending two employees to their deaths after telling them to find prize apples in an oxygen-deprived container.
A court heard Andrew Stocker, 57, "encouraged" a practice nicknamed "scuba diving" on Blackmoor Estate to find the best specimens in storage.
Scott Cain, 23, and Ashley Clarke, 24, died in February 2013 while Mr Stocker was on holiday in the Maldives.
Employees held their breath while in the container with 1% oxygen.
Winchester Crown Court heard days before the deaths the former manager of Tory peer Lord Selborne's estate had instructed Mr Cain to collect fruit samples for the Marden Fruit Show in Kent.
'Die immediately'
Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, said Mr Stocker enjoyed the "kudos" of winning at the contest rather than claiming the "modest" financial prizes.
He said air in the sealed units had oxygen levels of 1% to preserve the fruit.
Anyone entering would "die immediately" after they ran out of breath while in the facility.
He said the term "scuba diving" was ironic as they were not given breathing apparatus to carry out the task.
Scott Cain was a father-of-one from Whitehill who died at Blackmoor Estate in February 2013
Mr Dennis said: "The defendant knew well that the forbidden form of entry would have to be employed in order to gather the samples."
The men were found unconscious on top of the crates of apples.
Mr Cain, 23, was engaged to be married to the mother of his young child at the time of his death.
Blackmoor Estate is owned by Conservative peer John Palmer, Lord Selborne, and the managing director is his son, Viscount Wolmer.
Mr Stocker, of Bordon, denies two counts of manslaughter and the trial continues.
Ashley Clarke died in February 2013 after entering a fruit storage container with low oxygen levels
- Published20 February 2013
