William Hill shop sign which killed guy was 'a good repair'

8 October 2018

A worker who set up a 31 stone (200kg) sign above a bookies which fell and crushed a man has actually told a court it was "a great 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 bookmakers on 28 January 2013.

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

William Hill Organisation Ltd denies breaching health and wellness.

New Zealand nationwide Mr Marx, 27, suffered a broken 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 jury he had actually got a "good repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

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

Mr Park said he performed a visual evaluation of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" but added that the fascia "ought to be suitabled 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, defending William Hill, if the fitter had no obligation for the structure below he stated: "Yes, just the fascia, not the structure itself."

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects one count of stopping working to ensure the security of non-employees and one count of stopping working to make sure the security of workers.

the yohaig code trial continues.

Man eliminated by 'alarmingly insecure' indication

28 September 2018