A woman was killed in east London when a pallet containing more than two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane onto the pavement, a court has heard. Michaela Boor, 30, was with a friend and they had just dropped their children off at school in March 2018, when the incident happened. The court heard Ms Boor was hit as "a large number of bricks" fell from the crane as they walked on the pavement on the corner of Burdett Road in Bethnal Green. A developer and four men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday facing manslaughter charges. Higgins Homes Plc is accused of corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence. Thomas Anstis, 68, of Banstead, Surrey; Stephen Coulson, 68, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Dawood Mann, 59, of Ashford, Kent; and Alexander McInnes 32, of Islington, north London, are each accused of one count of gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence. The defendants spoke only to confirm their identities. Busola Johnson, prosecuting, told the court the case concerned "a fatal accident" on 27 March 2018 in which a member of the public was killed when a "large number of bricks" fell on her as she walked past a building site. Ms Boor suffered very serious injuries and received medical help at the scene and in hospital but died two days later, Ms Johnson said. Higgins Homes Plc was a property developer, Anstis was the site manager, Coulson was responsible for compiling the lifting plan for the site, Mann was a crane supervisor and McInnes was a crane operator, the prosecution said. The defendants were given bail by Judge Briony Clarke until their next court appearance at the Old Bailey on July 14. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London onSoundsand follow BBC London onFacebook,XandInstagram. Send your story ideas tohello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Builders on trial over woman killed by falling bricks
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"Trial Begins for Builders Charged in Death of Woman Hit by Falling Bricks"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A tragic incident occurred in east London in March 2018 when a pallet loaded with over two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane, resulting in the death of 30-year-old Michaela Boor. At the time of the incident, Ms. Boor was walking with a friend after dropping their children off at school when a large number of bricks fell from a construction site onto the pavement on Burdett Road in Bethnal Green. The court proceedings, which began at Westminster Magistrates' Court, revealed that Ms. Boor sustained serious injuries and, despite receiving immediate medical attention, succumbed to her injuries two days later. The prosecution characterized the event as a fatal accident, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the impact on the victim's family and community.
Five individuals, including the property developer Higgins Homes Plc and four men associated with the site, are facing charges of manslaughter and health and safety violations. Specifically, the defendants include Thomas Anstis, the site manager; Stephen Coulson, responsible for the lifting plan; Dawood Mann, the crane supervisor; and Alexander McInnes, the crane operator. During the court hearing, the defendants confirmed their identities but did not provide additional statements. They were granted bail by Judge Briony Clarke, with their next appearance scheduled for July 14 at the Old Bailey. The case highlights significant concerns regarding workplace safety regulations and the responsibilities of construction companies in ensuring public safety, particularly in urban environments where construction activities may pose risks to passersby.
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