First Nickel and Taurus Drilling case continues in Sudbury

Final submissions in the case against First Nickel and Taurus Drilling are underway in Sudbury.

The mining companies are facing a total of 12 charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Two contract workers with Taurus Marc Methe and Norm Bisaillonwere killed in 2014, after a fall of ground at Lockerby Mine. First Nickel owned the mine at the time.

The defence lawyer representing Taurus Drilling focused on responsibility in his closing statements on Tuesday.

John Illingworthsaid the company did everything it reasonably could to ensure the safety of the mine.

He arguedthat, as the owner of the mine, First Nickel carried most of the responsibility for the site.

The court also heard that Taurus did its best to identify and rectify any problems,and properly trained its workers to communicate ground conditions.

But Dave McCaskill, the lawyer for the Ministry of Labour, said that Taurus is still part of a "hierarchy of liability."

McCaskill said although First Nickel turned a blind eye to major problems in the mine, Taurus still made errors that warrant convictions.

"This was a foreseeable and preventable event," he said

First Nickel was not present for the proceedings on Tuesday. The company went into receivership in 2015 and is not represented in court.

McCaskill will continue his final submissions on Wednesday.

The judge presiding over the case says he will do his best to deliver a verdict this week.