William Hill store indication which killed man was 'a great fix'

8 October 2018

An employee who installed a 31 stone (200kg) sign above a bookmakers which fell and crushed a man has told a court it was "a great fix" when he put it up.

Jacob Marx had actually been working in London for four months when he was crushed by the indication outside a William Hill bookmakers on 28 January 2013.

Carlos Park told Blackfriars Crown Court the fascia he connected the indication to had actually been "strong".

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and wellness.

New Zealand national Mr Marx, 27, suffered a broken 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 check in 2006.

He informed the jury he had got a "excellent repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

"The fascia was strong. I can tell when I am taking the screws out (of the old sign)," he stated.

Mr Park said he performed a visual assessment of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" however included that the fascia "must be suitabled for purpose when I show up."

Former Saltwell's factory manager Terrance English informed the court the indication fitter was not responsible for checking the building's structure.

When asked by John Cooper, safeguarding William Hill, if the fitter had no duty for the structure listed below he said: "Yes, just the fascia, not the structure itself."

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

The trial continues.

Man eliminated by 'alarmingly insecure' indication

28 September 2018