An Indian restaurant owner has been accused of killing a customer by serving him a meal that contained peanut powder, a UK Court heard.
53-year-old Mohammed Zaman, owner of The Indian Garden restaurant in North Yorks, substituted almond powder with cheaper ground nut mix, which contained peanuts, as a way of cutting costs, a jury heard.
He also allegedly failed to warn his customers which resulted into death of Paul Wilson, 38, who was severely allergic to peanuts. Mr Wilson died after eating a curry made with the cheaper ingredient.
The court has heard that the waiter who served him and the cook who prepared the curry, both were in breach of immigration laws and were working illegally in the restaurant.
Paul Wilson was killed by the curry he bought at The Indian Garden restaurant, despite clearly stating "no nuts". Infact the lid of his takeaway container too had mentioned ‘no nuts’ on it, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Richard Wright, QC, told the court Zaman cut corners to save cash.
Mr Wright said: "An analysis of the curry recovered from the plate in the kitchen of Paul Wilson's home also demonstrated that peanut had killed him. Less than three grammes of the sauce from the curry would have been sufficient to give rise to the level of peanut in the stomach."
“There was no confusion here. Instead there was a business in which corners were being cut for the sake of profits, systems were non-existent and the customer was constantly exposed to danger.
The Telegraph reported in what is thought to be the first prosecution of its kind, Zaman denies the manslaughter of Mr Wilson and has pleaded not guilty.
The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues.
