Developer denies manslaughter of mother crushed by bricks
Michaela Boor, 30, died after a pallet containing more than two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane at a building site
A developer and four men have denied the manslaughter of a woman who was crushed 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 over her death along with Thomas Anstis, 68, of Banstead, Surrey; Stephen Coulson, 69, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Dawood Mann, 60, of Ashford, Kent; and Alexander McInnes, 33, of Islington, north London.
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 Friday, the defendants appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea and case management hearing before Judge Anthony Leonard KC.
A representative of Higgins Homes entered not guilty pleas to charges of corporate manslaughter and failing to discharge its duty under the Health and Safety Act 1974.
The other defendants each denied gross negligence manslaughter and a similar health and safety offence.
The defendants were granted continued bail ahead of their Old Bailey trial next October 1. The trial is due to go on for 10 weeks.