THE Beaconsfield Gold company dramatically withdrew from a long-awaited coronial inquest yesterday, saying heroes of the mining tragedy were being scandalously blamed.

The company strenuously rejected allegations that financial pressures compromised safety, or that there was no proper risk assessment after a rockfall that preceded the 2006 accident in which a miner, Larry Knight, died.

Its counsel, David Neal, SC, then surprised the Launceston court by withdrawing his legal team, saying he would return only for the evidence of mine executives.

The decision follows the company’s failure earlier this month to have the coroner, Rod Chandler, rule against the need for an inquest, which already has received a report by a special state investigator, Greg Melick, SC.

In the Anzac Day rockfall, Mr Knight, 44, of Launceston, died instantly at the controls of a telehandler machine holding aloft workmates Todd Russell and Brant Webb in a cage. Mr Russell and Mr Webb survived in the crushed cage under tonnes of rock for 14 days in a rescue led by the mine management.

“Now there is a question at the start of this inquest whether some of the heroes of the rescue, namely our clients, were to blame for the accident in the first place,” Dr Neal said.

Statements taken by the Australian Workers Union implied the mine put production ahead of safety, he said. “In the absence of any proper basis, that’s a scandalous implication.”

Beaconsfield Gold is now left with no chance to cross-examine witnesses who it says were unjustly critical of management.

Mr Chandler adjourned the hearing for a tour of the mine today.

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