REPRESENTATIVES from two companies have appeared before the courts following the death of a five-year-old girl.

Alexys Brown died of head and neck injuries after being trapped between a lift and a ceiling at her home in Emmadale Close, Weymouth, on August 13 2015.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) later confirmed it was prosecuting Synergy Housing Ltd and Aster Property Ltd, which have merged, as well as Orona Ltd, for breaches under Section3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Earlier this week, representatives for the companies appeared before magistrates in Poole charged with being employers and failing to discharge a general health and safety duty to a person other than an employee.

No pleas were entered, and a new date of March 29 was set for a further hearing.

As reported in the Daily Echo, a coroner heard police inquiries into Alexys' death had concluded without anyone being charged.

However, an investigation by HSE was launched, which then led to the charges.

Section 3 of the Act places general duties on employers and the self-employed to conduct their undertakings in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons other than themselves or their employees are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

Alexys, known as Lexi, was the youngest of three children of Lorraine and Matthew Brown.

At the opening of the inquest, coroner’s officer Andy Lord said: “Alexys was ascending a platform lift to go up to the first floor of the property when she became trapped between part of the lift and the ground floor ceiling of the property.

“She was freed by emergency services but was pronounced deceased at the scene.”