The two companies charged in a fatal explosion at the Come By Chance refinery three years ago entered guilty pleas in Clarenville provincial court this morning.

It was only in late August that refinery operator Braya Renewable Fuels and contractor Lorneville Mechanical pleaded not guilty to the combined 13 offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The charges were laid in July of last year, almost two years after the blast, termed a flash fire, claimed the life of 47-year-old Shawn Peddle of Clarenville, while injuring seven others.

It happened just over three years ago, on September 2nd, 2022, a Friday afternoon leading into the Labour Day weekend.

Lawyers for the Crown and both companies had been working behind the scenes to find a resolution to the tragic and complex case that would satisfy all parties, and save the workers’ families the strain of a three-week trial.

That resolution came this morning, with the Crown accepting guilty pleas to a single charge of failing to ensure safe work procedures for Braya, and failing to prevent others from being exposed to the hazard for Lorneville.

In exchange the Crown agreed to withdraw the other 11 similar charges.

The case is now adjourned until mid-November when the court will hear the facts of what happened that day, and how it changed the lives of so many.