'I still want justice after death of my brother'

Just after midnight on Sunday 19 January 2025 Grace Castrudes had a video call with her brother George. She was calling from the Philippines to check on her younger sibling who was alone in his cabin on a farm in Jersey.

Grace did not know that call would be the last time she would ever hear her brother's voice.

Thirty-seven-year-old George Castrudes died from carbon monoxide poisoning after lighting a fire inside a washing machine drum to keep warm in his accommodation at La Valette Nurseries.

An inquest into his death found the Filipino farm worker made that "impulsive decision" because the cabin he lived in was so cold.

At the conclusion of the inquest, coroner Deputy Viscount Advocate Matt Berry said he would write to the ministers for home affairs and environment, as well as Jersey Farmers' Union (JFU), to understand whether portable cabins were still being used as accommodation for farm workers during the winter and whether they met the requirements of Jersey housing law.

He said it was a recommendation to prevent future deaths in the island.

Deputy Beatriz Porée, who leads the States' work permit holder review panel into the experiences of seasonal workers in Jersey, added: "I think the current work permit policy does not accommodate for the checks and balances and to make sure the workers are being kept safe and properly."

But George's sister told the BBC she felt there were more questions to be answered before justice had been done for her brother.

"I will truly say I am not satisfied with the inquest that has happened this week," she said. "For me, from the bottom of my heart, I still want justice for my brother."

Grace said her parents had decided not to talk about their loss any more but she would continue speaking out for her brother.

Grace said her family was trying to look at George's death as part of God's plan, "even though it hurt a lot".

Father to three young daughters, George first left the Philippines to work in Jersey in 2021.

He was employed on a seasonal contract where he spent nine months in the island before returning home for the rest of the year.

During the inquest into his death, a representative from the JFU said there were around 300 Filipino farm workers in Jersey. They said Filipino nationals now made up the majority of the migrant workforce in the island's agricultural industry.

Grace explained why George took the decision to find work thousands of miles from home.

"The life we have here in the Philippines is very hard, even though you have this, what we call, stable job," she said.

"But, since the cost of living here in the Philippines is very high and he has three children that are dependent on him, he has a dream of giving them a good and brighter future so George has this plan to work abroad.

"George has this mindset of continuously working not just for himself, not just for his partner, but especially for his children."

The coroner said George was living in a "state of relative poverty" when he died, which made him more likely to take "drastic measures" to sustain himself.

He said this was largely because he was sending 75% of his net wages home to his family.

George was working in Jersey for his fourth season at La Valette Nurseries when he died. He was employed on a nine-month temporary contract by the Blake family.

Grace said since her brother died there was noone to support his family.

"My parents let them live here in the house for some time until George's partner is able to support them.

"The youngest child is two years old, so we have this promise to each other that we are going to help, we are going to help George's partner to raise his children."

Grace joined the inquest into her brother's death every day via video link from the Philippines. She was it was an "emotionally draining experience" for the whole family.

Speaking through tears, Grace said: "I'm remembering the last time I talked to my brother... I didn't recognise then that this is the last time, that I should cherish the last moment."

She said her family had prayed for the inquest to end so they could start moving on with their lives.

"Accepting this reality that my brother will never really come back," she said.

Grace said, primarily, her family wanted to know that George's death would never be repeated.

"We are just hoping that no one will experience the same incident that happened to my brother, because of the hurt, the pain that we experience."

At the inquest's conclusion, the coroner requested that politicians audit farm worker accommodation in future, making sure it is safe. Grace has welcomed this recommendation.

"They [government] should strictly implement that they will have the proper standards with regards to the accommodation of the foreign workers," she said.

"I just want to tell the other Filipino workers or other foreign workers that it is necessary, yes, it is necessary to work for the improvement of our lives as well as our family.

"But, more than this, we should be mindful we have the right to be protected by the country we are working for."

The directors of La Valette Nurseries - Nigel, David and Paul Blake - issued a statement following the inquest:

They said: "All of the team at La Valette wish to express their sincere condolences to George's family and friends.

"As we have heard, George worked a number of seasons at La Valette and was a valued and well-regarded member of the team. He was a pleasure to work alongside and his loss has been felt deeply by all.

"La Valette has welcomed the opportunity to assist the Deputy Viscount in understanding how George came by his death and has sought at all times to co-operate fully with the coronial process in order to establish the relevant facts.

"It is hoped these proceedings have provided clarity and answers for those affected by George's loss."

During the proceedings, Nigel Blake told the inquest La Valette Nurseries was closing down.

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