William Hill store indication which eliminated guy was 'an excellent repair'

8 October 2018

A worker who installed a 31 stone (200kg) indication above a bookmakers which fell and squashed a male has informed a court it was "a great fix" when he put it up.

Jacob Marx had actually been operating in London for four months when he was crushed by the sign outside a William Hill bookmakers on 28 January 2013.

Carlos Park informed Blackfriars Crown Court the fascia he attached the sign to had been "solid".

William Hill Organisation Ltd denies breaching health and safety.

New Zealand nationwide Mr Marx, 27, suffered a damaged neck and a fractured skull after the indication 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 repair" to the plywood fascia when screwing it up.

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

Mr Park said he performed a visual examination of the plywood "to see there is not any rot" however added that the fascia "ought to be fit for function when I show up."

Former Saltwell's factory manager Terrance English informed the court the sign fitter was not responsible for inspecting the structure's structure.

When asked by John Cooper, safeguarding William Hill, if the yohaig code fitter had no obligation for the structure below he said: "Yes, simply the fascia, not the structure itself."

William Hill Organisation Ltd denies one count of failing to guarantee the yohaig code security of non-employees and one count of failing to guarantee the security of staff members.

The trial continues.

Man eliminated by 'alarmingly insecure' sign

28 September 2018