Jumping castle operator found not guilty over tragedy that killed six children
The operator of a jumping castle at the centre of a tragedy that killed six Tasmanian children has been cleared of breaching workplace safety laws after previously being accused of failing to properly secure the castle.
Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt died after a wind gust lifted the jumping castle they were playing on into the air at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport in December 2021.
They were enjoying end-of-year celebrations on their school oval when the castle became airborne and the children fell from it.
Three other children were seriously injured in the accident.
Rosemary Gamble, owner of party equipment company Taz-Zorb, which operated the jumping castle, pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a workplace health and safety duty.
She was found not guilty by Magistrate Robert Webster, who handed down his decision in Devonport Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Webster did not read out his full decision, which is expected to be published online.
'I found the charge is not proven. It is dismissed. Ms Gamble, you are free to go,' he said.
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