Higgins Homes and four workers on trial over fatal brick fall

A construction company and four individuals are facing trial at the Old Bailey following the death of Michaela Boor, 29, who was killed by falling bricks. Ms Boor died on March 29, 2018, two days after being struck by a pallet of bricks that fell from a tower crane onto Burdett Road in Bow, east London. The incident occurred as she was walking home from dropping her children at school.

The incident

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC told the court that Ms Boor and Chelsea Mustafa were walking back from local shops on the morning of March 27, 2018. Their route took them past a construction site being developed by Higgins Homes plc. A pallet of bricks being moved by a tower crane adjacent to the pavement fell. While Ms Mustafa was able to avoid the main impact, Ms Boor, who remained on the pavement, sustained a fractured skull and catastrophic brain injuries. She received treatment at the scene before being taken to the Royal London Hospital, where she died despite surgery, as reported by MyLondon.

Charges and defendants

Higgins Homes plc, the principal contractor and designer of the flats being built, faces charges of corporate manslaughter and a violation of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company denies these charges. Four construction workers are also on trial. Thomas Anstis, 69, the senior site manager and temporary work co-ordinator for Higgins Homes, is charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. Stephen Coulson, 69, director of Coulson Lifting Services, which was contracted for lifting operations, faces the same charges. Dawood Maan, 61, the crane supervisor, and Alexander McInnes, 34, the crane operator, are also charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. All four individuals deny the charges.

The trial at the Old Bailey is ongoing.