William Hill store indication which killed male was 'an excellent fix'

8 October 2018

An employee who set up a 31 stone (200kg) sign above a bookies which fell and squashed a male has informed a court it was "an excellent repair" when he put it up.

Jacob Marx had actually been operating in London for 4 months when he was squashed by the indication outside a William Hill bookmakers 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 wellness.

New Zealand national Mr Marx, 27, suffered a damaged neck and a fractured skull after the sign fell 2m on to him outside the yohaig code bookies in Camden Road.

The court heard Mr Park was working for Saltwell Signs when he fitted the check in 2006.

He told the jury he had got a "great repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

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

Mr Park said he brought out a visual assessment of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" but added that the fascia "should be suitabled for function when I turn up."

Former Saltwell's factory supervisor Terrance English told the court the yohaig code sign fitter was not accountable for examining the building's structure.

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

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

The trial continues.

Man killed by 'alarmingly insecure' indication

28 September 2018