William Hill shop indication which eliminated male was 'a great repair'

8 October 2018

A worker who installed a 31 stone (200kg) indication above a bookmakers which fell and crushed a male has told a court it was "an excellent 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 been "solid".

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and safety.

New Zealand national Mr Marx, 27, suffered a broken neck and a fractured skull after the indication 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 sign in 2006.

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

"The fascia was solid. I can tell when I am taking the yohaig code screws out (of the old sign)," he said.

Mr Park said he performed a visual evaluation of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" however included that the fascia "ought to be suitabled for function when I turn up."

Former Saltwell's factory manager Terrance English told the court the indication fitter was not responsible for examining the structure's structure.

When asked by John Cooper, protecting William Hill, if the yohaig code fitter had no duty 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 ensure the safety of non-employees and one count of stopping working to make sure the security of workers.

The trial continues.

Man eliminated by 'precariously insecure' indication

28 September 2018