Latest news with #ChaceHarrison
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Operator not guilty over Tasmania bouncy castle tragedy
Photo: Twitter/@gillianlant The operator of a bouncy castle at the centre of a tragedy that killed six children in Tasmania 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.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
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.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Jumping castle operator not guilty over fatal accident that killed six kids in Tasmania
The operator of a jumping castle at the centre of a tragedy that killed six children has been cleared in court of workplace safety law breaches. 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. 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, 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.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
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. - ABC News
