The trial of a BP engineer accused of trying to block investigations into the Deepwater Horizon spill is set to begin in New Orleans today.
Kurt Mix, who was a drilling engineer for the British oil supermajor, faces a possible jail sentence if convicted of claims he deleted text messages and voicemails over the company’s response to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster.
Mix, who has been charged with two counts of obstructing justice, will stand trial this week, with jury selection due to begin in New Orleans today.
The 52-year-old, from Texas, is the first of four BP employees to go on trial over charges connected to the disaster.
The charge claims that Mix deleted a string of text messages to and from supervisor Jonathan Sprague from his iPhone on Octtober 4, 2010 – one day before a company vendor tried to collect documents from his laptop.
The following August, Mix is alleged to have deleted text messages sent to and from contractor Wilson Arabie.
The indictment also claims Mix deleted voicemails from Arabie, his supervisor and an unidentified caller.
“The timing of these deletions provides compelling evidence of (Mix’s) corrupt intent to prevent the discovery of his text messages with the Supervisor and Contractor,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
Each of the two charges carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.