William Hill shop indication which eliminated male was 'an excellent fix'

8 October 2018

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

Jacob Marx had been operating in London for 4 months when he was crushed by the indication outside a William Hill bookies on 28 January 2013.

Carlos Park told Blackfriars Crown Court the fascia he attached the sign to had actually been "solid".

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and wellness.

New Zealand national Mr Marx, 27, suffered a damaged 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 actually got a "excellent repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

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

Mr Park said he performed a visual inspection of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" however added that the fascia "should be fit for function when I show up."

Former Saltwell's factory supervisor Terrance English told the court the indication fitter was not responsible for inspecting the yohaig code building's structure.

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

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

The trial continues.

Man eliminated by 'dangerously insecure' sign

28 September 2018