BP Managers Could Face Manslaughter Charges

U.S. prosecutors are reportedly weighing charges in connection with the oil-rig explosion that killed 11 people and caused the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

According to anonymous sources, federal prosecutors are looking into decisions made by BP managers leading up to the disastrous oil spill last April to determine whether manslaughter charges are warranted. A commission appointed by President Barack Obama has already identified 11 decisions that the company made that increased the operation’s speed but also raised safety risks, including deciding to skip a test to determine if the oil well was stable just days before a natural gas leak triggered a deadly explosion. The Justice Department filed a civil suit against the company in September, but experts say that charging individuals within the organization is key to deterring other corporations from acting recklessly.