A 29-year-old mother was crushed to death by a falling pallet of bricks while walking home from the shops after dropping her child at school, a court has heard.
Michaela Boor suffered catastrophic and ultimately unsurvivable brain injuries when a pallet being carried by a tower crane fell from a construction site onto the pavement in east London.
The tragedy happened in March 2018 as Boor walked along Burdett Road in Bow with her friend Chelsea Mustafa.
Mum killed on the way home from the shops
The Old Bailey heard that Boor and Mustafa had first dropped their children at a primary school on St Paul’s Way.
They then walked along Burdett Road towards Lidl and Tesco to buy some items, with Boor’s birthday due the following day.
As they made their way back towards the junction with St Paul’s Way, their route took them alongside a construction site where Higgins Homes plc was developing a block of flats.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC told jurors that a pallet of bricks was being moved by a tower crane towards a loading bay directly beside the pavement.
The load fell onto the two women.
Mustafa was struck by bricks on her hand and back but managed to escape the main impact by running into the road.
Boor was not able to get clear of the pavement.
She was hit by the falling load and suffered a fractured skull and devastating brain injuries.
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Michaela Boor died after she was crushed by bricks in east London while on a school run
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Alexander McInnes is one of four construction workers accused of one count of gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence in relation to Ms Boor’s death
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The completed apartment block where Michaela Boor was killed by falling bricks. Contractor Higgins Homes is charged with corporate manslaughter and a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act
Michaela died two days after the incident
Emergency treatment was provided at the scene before Boor was taken to the Royal London Hospital.
Despite undergoing surgery, her injuries could not be survived.
She died two days later, on March 29, after suffering what the prosecution described as “unsurvivable” injuries.
Her death has led to criminal proceedings against Higgins Homes and four men involved in the construction and lifting operations at the site.
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The aftermath of the bricks which fell from the crane on Burdett Road in Bow, east London
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Ms Boor pictured with her son, Keiran
Higgins Homes faces corporate manslaughter charge
Higgins Homes, which acted as the principal contractor and designer for the development, is charged with corporate manslaughter as well as an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The company denies the allegations.
The court also heard details of the roles played by four men who were involved in managing or carrying out the lifting operation.
Thomas Anstis, 69, was the senior site manager and temporary works co-ordinator employed by Higgins Homes. He was responsible for the construction site and for overseeing subcontractors working on the project and coordinating their activities.
Stephen Coulson, 69, was director of Coulson Lifting Services, which had been contracted by Higgins Homes.
He was the appointed person responsible for planning lifting operations and had overall control of those operations. Although he was not required to remain permanently at the site, the court heard that he was expected to make periodic visits to establish whether any changes required the lifting plan to be revised.
Coulson was not at the site when the fatal incident occurred.
Crane supervisor and operator also on trial
Dawood Maan, 61, was the crane supervisor responsible for overseeing and supervising lifting operations. He was working as a self-employed contractor for Coulson Lifting Services.
Alexander McInnes, 34, was the crane operator. He was also self-employed and worked for London Tower Cranes.
All four men are charged with gross negligence manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
They deny the charges.
The trial is continuing.