William Hill Shop Sign which Killed Man was 'An Excellent Fix'
William Hill shop sign which eliminated man was 'a great fix'
8 October 2018
A worker who installed a 31 stone (200kg) indication above a bookies which fell and crushed a guy has told a court it was "a good repair" when he put it up.
Jacob Marx had been working in London for four months when he was squashed by the indication outside a William Hill bookies on 28 January 2013.
Carlos Park told Blackfriars Crown Court the fascia he connected the sign to had actually been "solid".
William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and wellness.
New Zealand nationwide Mr Marx, 27, suffered a damaged neck and a fractured skull after the sign fell 2m on to him outside the bookies in Camden Road.
The court heard Mr Park was working for Saltwell Signs when he fitted the indication in 2006.
He told the jury he had actually got a "great repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.
"The fascia was strong. I can inform when I am taking the screws out (of the old sign)," he said.
Mr Park said he performed a visual assessment of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" but included that the fascia "should be fit for function when I show up."
Former Saltwell's factory manager Terrance English told the court the sign fitter was not accountable for examining the structure's structure.
When asked by John Cooper, protecting William Hill, if the fitter had no responsibility for the structure listed below he stated: "Yes, just the fascia, not the structure itself."
William Hill Organisation Ltd denies one count of stopping working to guarantee the security of non-employees and one count of failing to ensure the safety of workers.
The trial continues.
Man killed by 'alarmingly insecure' indication
28 September 2018
William Hill shop sign which eliminated man was 'a great fix'
8 October 2018
A worker who installed a 31 stone (200kg) indication above a bookies which fell and crushed a guy has told a court it was "a good repair" when he put it up.
Jacob Marx had been working in London for four months when he was squashed by the indication outside a William Hill bookies on 28 January 2013.
Carlos Park told Blackfriars Crown Court the fascia he connected the sign to had actually been "solid".
William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and wellness.
New Zealand nationwide Mr Marx, 27, suffered a damaged neck and a fractured skull after the sign fell 2m on to him outside the bookies in Camden Road.
The court heard Mr Park was working for Saltwell Signs when he fitted the indication in 2006.
He told the jury he had actually got a "great repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.
"The fascia was strong. I can inform when I am taking the screws out (of the old sign)," he said.
Mr Park said he performed a visual assessment of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" but included that the fascia "should be fit for function when I show up."
Former Saltwell's factory manager Terrance English told the court the sign fitter was not accountable for examining the structure's structure.
When asked by John Cooper, protecting William Hill, if the fitter had no responsibility for the structure listed below he stated: "Yes, just the fascia, not the structure itself."
William Hill Organisation Ltd denies one count of stopping working to guarantee the security of non-employees and one count of failing to ensure the safety of workers.
The trial continues.
Man killed by 'alarmingly insecure' indication
28 September 2018