BREAKING NEWS D-day for embattled jumping castle operator as she learns her fate over tragedy that killed six children
The operator of a jumping castle at the centre of a tragedy that killed six children has been cleared of breaching workplace safety laws.
Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt died after the incident at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport in December 2021.
They were enjoying end-of-year celebrations on the Tasmanian school's oval when a wind gust lifted the castle into the air.
Three other children were seriously injured in the accident.
Rosemary Gamble, owner of Taz-Zorb which set up the equipment, 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.
Mr Webster didn't read the 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.
Gamble faced a 10-day hearing in November where it was alleged she only used pegs at four of the castle's eight anchor points, despite the manufacturer's instructions recommending eight.
Her lawyer Chris Dockray argued Gamble had been left out to dry by the castle's Chinese manufacturer.
East Inflatables didn't provide instructions to Gamble upon purchase and only supplied four pegs, Mr Dockray said.
Gamble instead downloaded a two-page manual from the company's website, he said, which resulted in an interpretation that four pegs were sufficient.
According to court documents, seven students were on the castle when a significant weather event dislodged it.
They fell from the castle, while a blower attached to the castle to keep it inflated struck a nearby student.
Preparations for an inquest have been paused due to the criminal proceedings, while a class action has also been launched against Gamble as well as the state of Tasmania.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Death of Indigenous man in custody sparks nationwide rallies as public 'demand justice'
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article refers to Indigenous people who have died. Crowds have taken to the streets across Sydney and Brisbane in the second day of nationwide protests following the death of an Indigenous man in custody. Kumanjayi White, 24, died last Tuesday after he was restrained by two police officers at a Coles supermarket in Alice Springs. Police allege the 24-year-old was involved in an altercation with security guards after being seen placing items down the front of his clothing. He was placed on the ground by two plain-clothed arresting officers before he lost consciousness and was later pronounced dead at Alice Springs Hospital. Hundreds of protesters gathered on the steps of Sydney's Town Hall on George Street on Saturday night where the lawyer for Mr White's family addressed the crowd. 'I've just come back from Alice Springs and Yuendumu, I'm angry there are mothers grieving there tonight,' lawyer George Newhouse said. 'I am angry there was a disabled young man calling out for his mother in Coles last week.' Mr Newhouse read a statement from Mr White's family, mourning the death of the 24-year-old and calling for an independent investigation. The proceedings opened with a smoking ceremony before the crowd moved south towards the Surry Hills Police Station following speeches and music. Police attended the scene on horseback and watched on as protestors held signs reading 'Stop black deaths in custody' and 'Justice for Kumanjayi'. This year alone there have been 12 Indigenous deaths in custody and 597 since the 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was established. Meanwhile, similar scenes unfolded at King George Square in Brisbane where organisers also issued calls for an independent investigation. 'No more stolen lives' a banner read, behind a stage where Gungarri woman Dr Raylene Nixon opened up about her own son's death in police custody. 'Today I carry with me, the weight of my own loss of my son Steven Lee,' she said, according to the National Indigenous Times. 'First they criminalise us, then they brutalise us and then they justify it.' Her son, Steven Lee Nixon-Mckellar, 27, died in October 2021 shortly after being arrested by a senior constable outside his relative's home in Toowoomba, Queensland. Rallies and vigils commemorating Mr White's death were also held nationwide on Friday, stretching as far as Victoria's state parliament to Alice Springs. Northern Territory Police said in a statement last week that the cause of the 24-year-old's death remained undetermined and was before forensic pathologists. They allege he assaulted a woman that was not known to him near a Commonwealth Bank on Gregory Terrace just prior to the incident at Coles. Investigations into the alleged assault are ongoing.
The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
Boy, 11, becomes second child to die after M4 minibus crash
An 11-year-old boy has become the second child to die after a minibus overturned on a motorway slip road. Othniel Adoma, from Bracknell, Berkshire, died on Thursday, more than three weeks after the single-vehicle crash. The white Ford Transit minibus overturned on the exit slip road at junction 10 of the M4 eastbound, near Wokingham, on Sunday May 11. A six-year-old boy, who has not been named, also died in the collision. Five other children who were injured have now been discharged from hospital. Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Lyndsey Blackaby, of the serious collision investigation unit at Thames Valley Police, said: 'My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone at Thames Valley Police, are with the family and friends of Othniel Adoma. 'Othniel's family has released these beautiful pictures of Othniel in his memory. 'Othniel's family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.' South Central Ambulance Service said it was first alerted to the crash at 2.24pm, with its first units arriving at the scene eight minutes later. Five critical care units, including two air ambulance, attended the incident along with six ambulances. No arrests have been made.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
We're fighting to reclaim our seaside town from nudists openly having sex on beach… we're fed-up of it being no-go zone
SEETHING residents continue to fume at nudists for turning their picturesque coastal town into a public sex hotspot. Fuming locals hit out at beachgoers who get their kit off at Corton beach, near Lowestoft in Suffolk. 4 4 Now local MP Jess Asato has joined residents and councillors in a walk along the beach in a bid to reclaim the area for local children and holidaymakers. The MP said: "Residents are fed up with their beach being made a no-go area due to criminal sexual behaviour. "Our walk was a symbol of their efforts to ensure that no-one is feels afraid to use it - and send a signal that we will not tolerate what amounts to criminal acts." One local, a retired newspaper executive, added: "It's no longer safe to take children there to play on their beach. "It started about three years ago and has got worse every year since since - I was with my two and three-year-old grandchildren last summer and there were naked men deliberately showing off and flaunting themselves. "It is so offensive that we can no longer take our grandchildren to play on the beach. "Unfortunately the beach is now getting a reputation - and becoming famous - so the problem will only get worse. "Apart from the holidaymakers here there are people who live her all the time and now in the summer they can't go down to the sea." The Azure Seas village, which has more than 100 holiday and permanent cabins and homes which cost up to £200,000, is set in 15 acres of woodland on the cliffs overlooking the controversial beach and has its own direct access to the sea. Sales manager Duncan Gooch said: 'It's got nothing to do with nudity what so ever – it is the behaviour of some who go there, a group who think it is OK to indulge in lewd and sexual behaviour on the beach, openly in front of other people. Horny swingers or wholesome fun? Fabulous lets it all hang out at a naked festival to find out why naturism is booming in the UK 'It is blatant and deliberate – some are clearly exhibitionists and we take offence – as does everyone living or staying here – at their behaviour. 'Things have got worse over recent so year and are now so bad that a lot of people simply won't go onto the beach because it is full of naked exhibitionists parading up and down and having sex. "We have complained to the police and they say they will look into it." The parish council say they put up the sign after numerous complaints from local people about indecent behaviour on the beach, including individuals openly engaging in sexual acts and walkers being accosted. A parish council spokesman said: 'Businesses overlooking the beach have also been severely impacted, reporting substantial financial losses directly attributed to these behaviours. "The parish council is obligated to support and protect the parishioners and businesses within its jurisdiction. 'This is our fundamental responsibility, and the sign was intended to serve as a warning that engaging in such acts would be reported to the police. "This stance remains unchanged.' A spokesman for the council said: 'The sign stated that the beach was not a naturist beach and was intended to clarify that it is no longer a designated as such since nudism can be practiced anywhere. 'The council recognises that nudism is a legal activity and was not attempting to prohibit, outlaw, or prevent naturists from enjoying the beach and we don't intend to imply that naturists were responsible for this behaviour in any way. 'The sign was a warning to individuals whose lewd activities were causing distress to other beach-goers but we do not intend to imply or suggest that naturists were responsible for this behaviour in any way.' District councillor Paul Ashdown added: "Most people are aware that sunbathing in the nude on the beach is not illegal but some residents have witnessed lewd behaviour which is offensive and should not be conducted in a public space. 'It would be good to discourage this sort of behaviour so I understand the purpose of the sign - but I have no idea who might have taken it down. "I have now asked the council leader asking for help to resolve this issue.' An East Suffolk council spokesman said: 'We had requested removal of a sign placed without relevant permission on a signpost on East Suffolk Council land. "The parish council has informed us that the sign had been removed without its knowledge over the weekend.' Our picturesque seaside town is being ruined by NUDIST beach By Emer Scully A NUDIST beach has been slammed by locals who say perverts treat it like a porn set. The picturesque Shellness, on the popular Isle of Sheppey in Kent, has been an "official" nudist beach since the 1970s. Dozens of naturists flock to the sand dunes on sunny days to enjoy sunbathing and swimming without clothes. Yet the area has more recently been plagued by "sad, middle-aged men getting up to no good". Stuart Haylock, 50, who lives near Maidstone, claimed he has seen "shocking" things over the last few weeks - as he put up a fence close to the beach. The former Royal Navy serviceman said: "Sadly some parts of society seem to think that because it's a naturist area it should be treated like a porn set. "What I've witnessed in the past couple of weeks is sad, lonely middle-aged men getting up to no good. "I've spoken with some of the actual naturists and they're lovely people. What they're trying to do is just sunbathe naked without any interaction with perverts. "But I can only tell you what I've physically seen in the last few days. It's shocking." Another man, who did not want to be named but lives close to the beach said he has called the police"a number of times". He said: "These perverts have been using the area for sex. "There could be kids coming round here but they don't care. Many of them don't just stay for a few hours either, they park up in the nearby car park and stay for a week. "The actual naturists themselves tend to be alright. They've put some signs up now as we did used to have a problem with them staying in their area, but now it's okay." 4 4
