Inflatables expert and mechanical engineer Roderick McDonald continued giving evidence in the Devonport Magistrates Court on the 2021 jumping castle tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School, which caused the deaths of six children. Mr McDonald said if all the star pickets that were available on the day were used, the jumping castle would have stayed on the ground during the wind event.
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00:00A sombre start to the day as the court tries to unpick what went wrong at Hillcrest Primary
00:08School three years ago. How a jumping castle was thrown into the sky by southern and intense
00:14winds. Why six children were killed and why three were seriously injured. An inflatables
00:20expert giving evidence in the Devonport Magistrates Court for the third day. Agreeing with the
00:26defence that even if eight industry standard pegs had been used, it's possible the castle
00:31still would have become airborne. Roderick Macdonald previously told the court if eight
00:36star pickets were used, the tragedy could have been avoided. The castle's operator,
00:41Rosemary Ann Gamble, trading as TasZorb, has pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with
00:47a health and safety duty. The crux of the case against Ms Gamble is the castle's anchorage.
00:53The prosecution alleging she only secured it at half the tether points. Her defence
00:58argues she only received four pegs when she bought the castle. But Mr Macdonald told the
01:03court receiving a castle with eight anchors, but only half the pegs, should have raised
01:08concerns for Ms Gamble.
01:10If I bought a car and it only turned up with two wheels, that would be a problem, he said.
01:16Also saying even if Ms Gamble had set up the castle more than 100 times without issue,
01:22that didn't ensure safety. Smooth seas don't make the good sailors, he said.
01:28Today the prosecution's case closed, meaning the defence is now steering the proceedings.
01:34It's expected the hearing will wrap up on Friday, but families may not hear a verdict
01:38until next year.