Buncefield trial. Day 13:
The Buncefield High Court trial is expected to finish hearing witnesses next week as the timetable speeds up.
Fewer witnesses than predicted mean the trial is moving more quickly and discussions are under way to bring forward final submissions, originally scheduled to begin on December 1.
The trial today (October 27) heard more argument between Chevron an
d Total concerning who was in charge of the depot, and therefore who must foot the bill for the 2005 disaster.
Both were partners in the joint venture Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited (HOSL), which ran the part of the terminal where the blast took place, but Chevron is arguing Total was in fact in control.
Lord Grabiner, acting for Total, asked Brian Spittlehouse, a HOSL director and Chevron employee, why company documents identified HOSL as the operator.
Mr Spittlehouse insisted Fina, which became Total, was the operator.
"To the people associated with the site that was not the case," he said under cross examination.
"They clearly understood it was a Fina-operated site.
"Had we known we were going to have this court case we would've drafted it differently, but that isn't the way of the world."
He added: "The only explanation is there are inconsistencies in the paperwork, but there is no inconsistency in my mind at all about who operated the site."
Bryan Workman, also a HOSL director and Chevron employee, made the same point when Lord Grabiner presented him with company documents naming HOSL as the operator.
"You are looking at a piece of paper that was drafted in 1991 - I'm talking about what I saw on site," he told the court.
Lord Grabiner told him: "The evidence you are giving bears no relation to the contemporary documents."
Mr Workman replied: "I'm giving evidence on what happened at the site day to day."
Residents and businesses are seeking damages of around £700million from Total and HOSL.
The judge in the case has set aside November 17 and 18 to progress the settlement of claims.
The trial continues.
