A sentencing hearing will start later this month for two firms who admitted health and safety breaches following the deaths of two pest control subcontractors at a Norfolk chicken factory.
Banham Poultry Ltd, which went into liquidation in 2018, and Air Products PLC are due back in court on March 31 for the start of a two-day sentencing hearing.
It is after representatives for both companies admitted health and safety breaches following the deaths of Jonathan Collins, 34, from Watton, and Neil Moon, 49, from Spalding.
The two pest control subcontractors were found dead in the early hours of October 4, 2018, at Banham Poultry, in Attleborough.
Police were called to the site around 1am following reports the workers had been found dead.
Their deaths were investigated by detectives from the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, working alongside the Health and Safety Executive.
The two companies had been due to go on trial at Norwich Crown Court last month having each been charged with two counts of corporate manslaughter.
But guilty pleas were entered on behalf of Banham Poultry in respect of two Health and Safety at Work offences and by Air Products PLC in relation to one breach.
The offences related to failing to ensure so far as reasonably practicable a duty of care to workers.
Both companies each denied two counts of corporate manslaughter.
Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, said those pleas were acceptable to the crown and offered no evidence in respect of the manslaughter charges, stating not guilty verdicts should be entered.
The court heard both companies entered guilty pleas to the health and safety offences on the basis of "significant cause of actual harm".
The Honourable Mrs Justice Judith Farbey adjourned sentencing in the case for a two-day hearing, starting on March 31.
That hearing will hear impact statements from the families of Mr Collins and Mr Moon.
A coroner's court review in 2024 heard that the pair were found with frozen hands and faces and there was evidence of frost on the floor, but mystery still surrounds exactly how they died as a full inquest has yet to be held.
The ownership of Banham Poultry has changed twice since the tragedy.
The day after the deaths Banham Poultry Limited announced the factory had been bought by Chesterfield Poultry after the former went into administration.
In October 2021, the business was sold to the current owners Boparan Private Office (BPO) owned by 2 Sisters Food Group founder Ranjit Boparan.
The current management and owners of Banham Poultry are not connected to the incident nor involved in the legal proceedings.
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