Manslaughter trial after woman killed by falling bricks
A developer and four men are facing trial next year over the death of a woman
Last updated 14th Jul 2025
A developer and four men are facing trial next year over the death of a woman hit by falling bricks after dropping her children off at school.
Michaela Boor, 30, died after a pallet containing more than two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane at a building site on March 27 2018.
The incident happened as she walked with a friend along the pavement on the corner of Burdett Road in Bethnal Green, east London.
Ms Boor suffered very serious injuries and received medical help at the scene and in hospital, but died two days later.
Higgins Homes Plc was subsequently charged with corporate manslaughter and a health and safety offence.
Thomas Anstis, 68, of Banstead, Surrey; Stephen Coulson, 68, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Dawood Mann, 59, of Ashford, Kent; and Alexander McInnes, 32, of Islington, north London, were each charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence.
Higgins Homes Plc was a property developer, Anstis was the site manager, Coulson was responsible for compiling the lifting plan for the site, Mann was a crane supervisor and McInnes was a crane operator, according to the prosecution.
On Monday, they appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing before Judge Angela Rafferty KC.
The judge set a timetable for the case with a plea and case management hearing in the week of November 3.
A provisional trial lasting up to 10 weeks will take place from October 1 2026.
The defendants were granted continued unconditional bail.