Peanut allergy death not my fault says Yorkshire curry house owner

Mohammed Zaman, 53, has been accused of cutting corners with ingredients by using cheaper groundnut powder, containing peanuts, rather than almond powder, when his businesses ran into debt.

Allergy sufferer Paul Wilson, 38, died at his home in Helperby, North Yorkshire, in January 2014 after starting to eat a takeaway from the Indian Garden, Easingwold - which contained peanuts, despite asking staff for one without nuts.

His death came weeks after a teenage customer with a nut allergy needed hospital treatment after buying a meal from another of Zaman’s restaurants, Teesside Crown Court has heard.

Zaman, who was not present when Mr Wilson bought the curry, owned six restaurants in the county and his model was to employ managers to run them, he told the court.

The jury has heard one member of staff at the Indian Garden had been deported and another had vanished.

Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, asked: “You choose to blame other people, Mr Zaman, rather than taking any responsibility yourself, and that is your approach to the case, isn’t it?”

The defendant, from York, replied: “Yes, that is the reality.”

He admitted some of his cheques bounced, and blamed delayed payments to him from credit card companies.

Zaman denies manslaughter by gross negligence, perverting the course of justice and six food safety offences. The trial continues.