William Hill store sign which killed male was 'an excellent repair'

8 October 2018

An employee who installed a 31 stone (200kg) indication above a bookies which fell and crushed a guy has actually informed a court it was "a great repair" when he put it up.

Jacob Marx had actually been working in London for four months when he was squashed by the indication outside a William Hill bookies on 28 January 2013.

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

William Hill Organisation Ltd rejects breaching health and security.

New Zealand nationwide Mr Marx, 27, suffered a damaged 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 check in 2006.

He informed the jury he had actually got a "good fix" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

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

Mr Park said he carried out a visual evaluation of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" but included that the fascia "must be suitabled for function when I turn up."

Former Saltwell's factory supervisor Terrance English told the court the sign fitter was not responsible for checking the building's structure.

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

William Hill Organisation Ltd denies one count of stopping working to guarantee the safety of non-employees and one count of stopping working to make sure the safety of staff members.

The trial continues.

Man killed by 'precariously insecure' indication

28 September 2018