Mother Killed by Falling Bricks on School Run, Court Told

A mother was killed when a large pile of bricks fell from a crane onto her as she walked past a building site in east London, an Old Bailey trial has heard.

Michaela Boor, 29, was walking along Burdett Road in Bow on the morning of 27 March 2018 when the bricks fell from a pallet being lifted at a nearby construction site.

She suffered a fractured skull and catastrophic brain injuries and died two days later at the Royal London Hospital.

Bricks fell from crane

The court heard that Boor had been walking towards nearby shops with her friend Chelsea Mustafa when a pallet of bricks being transported by a tower crane fell towards the pavement.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said the pallet became caught on scaffolding while it was being lifted towards a loading bay immediately beside the pavement.

Mustafa managed to run into the road as the bricks fell, although she was struck on her back and hand.

Boor was unable to get away from the falling load and was hit by the bricks.

She received emergency treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital, but her injuries were described as unsurvivable.

Prosecutors allege safety failures

Higgins Homes, the principal contractor and designer for the development, is on trial accused of corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence.

Four construction workers contracted by the company — Thomas Anstis, Stephen Coulson, Dawood Maan and Alexander McInnes — face the same charges.

All five defendants deny the allegations.

The prosecution alleges that no adequate risk assessment had been carried out for lifting pallets of bricks close to members of the public.

Healy told jurors that Higgins Homes had failed to properly consider the safety of people outside the construction site.

The court also heard allegations concerning the crane operation itself.

‘Blind lift’ alleged

McInnes, the crane operator, is accused of having a restricted view of the load while it was being lifted.

Prosecutors allege that the operation became a “blind lift” when the pallet moved completely out of the operator's sight.

The prosecution claims the pallet subsequently caught on scaffolding, causing the bricks to fall.

Healy told the court that Boor was unable to escape the falling load while Mustafa ran away from the construction site and into the road.

Four workers also on trial

Thomas Anstis, 69, from Banstead in Surrey, was the senior site manager and temporary works co-ordinator. He was responsible for the site and overseeing subcontractors.

The prosecution alleges there was evidence that Anstis had “cut corners” to reduce costs.

Stephen Coulson, 69, from Hemel Hempstead, was director of Coulson Lifting Services and was responsible for lifting services. He was not at the site when the incident happened.

Dawood Maan, 61, from Ashford, Kent, was the crane supervisor responsible for overseeing lifting operations.

Alexander McInnes, 34, from Islington, north London, was operating the crane.

The prosecution will continue presenting its case as the trial proceeds.

The defendants deny the charges and the allegations against them have not been proven.

The trial continues.