carminebertles

William Hill Shop Sign which Killed Man was ‘An Excellent Fix’

William Hill shop indication which eliminated guy was ‘a good repair’

8 October 2018

An employee who set up a 31 stone (200kg) indication above a bookies which fell and squashed a guy has told a court it was “a good fix” when he put it up.

Jacob Marx had actually been operating in London for four months when he was squashed by the sign outside a William Hill bookies on 28 January 2013.

Carlos Park told Blackfriars Crown Court the fascia he attached the indication to had actually been “solid”.

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and safety.

New Zealand nationwide Mr Marx, 27, a damaged neck and a fractured skull after the sign fell 2m on to him outside the bookmakers in Camden Road.

The court heard Mr Park was working for Saltwell Signs when he fitted the indication in 2006.

He told the yohaig code jury he had actually got a “excellent fix” to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

“The fascia was solid. I can inform when I am taking the screws out (of the old indication),” he said.

Mr Park said he brought out a visual evaluation of the plywood “to see there is not any rot” but added that the fascia “needs to be fit for function when I show up.”

Former Saltwell’s factory supervisor Terrance English informed the court the sign fitter was not responsible for checking the building’s structure.

When asked by John Cooper, safeguarding William Hill, if the fitter had no responsibility for the structure listed below he said: “Yes, simply the fascia, not the structure itself.”

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects one count of failing to guarantee the security of non-employees and one count of stopping working to ensure the safety of staff members.

The trial continues.

Man killed by ‘dangerously insecure’ indication

28 September 2018