US mine boss guilty of Pike River-like explosion

US mine boss guilty of Pike River-like explosion

An American mine boss faces jail time after a trial over a mine explosion that caused many fatalities and had remarkable similarities to Pike River.

But Pike River families say the similarity ends there because no one's been held accountable in New Zealand.

The jury deliberated for more than a fortnight over three charges against controversial mine boss Donald Blankenship, whose mine blew up in 2010 killing 29 men. 

Early this morning (NZ time), he was found guilty of violating mine safety law, but cleared on charges he misled safety investigators.

Watch the video to watch the full 3 News report.