UK man pleads guilty to immigration, property offences in truck deaths case

A Northern Irishman, who is charged with themanslaughter of 39 Vietnamese nationals found dead in atrucknear London last month, pleadedguiltyon Monday to assisting unlawfulimmigrationand to acquiring criminalproperty.

Appearing by video link from Belmarsh Prison in east London, Maurice Robinson, 25, was not asked to enter a plea to 41 other charges, including 39 counts ofmanslaughter.

No trial date was set and Robinson is next due in court on December13.

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The victims, 31 men and boys and eight women, were found on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, not far from docks on the River Thames, on Oct. 23. The oldest of the victims was 44 while three were aged under 18.

Another 23-year-oldmanfrom Northern Ireland was separately charged on Sunday with charges of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach ofUKimmigrationlaw.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in England on Monday.