Operator in fatal Tasmania bouncy castle tragedy found not guilty
Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, Peter Dodt died in the tragedy.
Photo:
ABC News/Supplied
A magistrate has dismissed a charge against the operator of the jumping castle involved in the 2021 Hillcrest Primary School tragedy, finding the charge against her not proven.
Rosemary Anne Gamble, trading as Taz-Zorb, pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a health and safety duty over the 16 December incident.
Six children died and three were seriously injured when the jumping castle blew into the air in a wind gust during an end-of-year school celebration.
Prosecutors alleged Gamble had not adequately anchored the castle, but Gamble's defence argued nothing could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
The incident occurred in December 2021.
After delivering his verdict, Magistrate Robert Webster told Gamble she was "free to go".
The families cried out and shook their heads in what appeared to be disbelief, with one mother yelling at Gamble as she left the courtroom.
All the families left the room moments later.
Gamble remained sobbing in the courtroom.
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