Day six of trial into Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy to hear from mechanical engineer

The criminal hearing into the Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy will resume for day six, where a mechanical engineer believes workers were not adequately trained.

Hillcrest jumping castle operator Rosemary Gamble (R) walking into Devonport magistrates Court. Picture: Matthew Denholm

If the jumping castle operators at the centre of the Hillcrest tragedy had used eight star pickets instead of four pegs, the inflatable could have been able to withstand up to an extra 30km/h of wind speeds, a court as heard.

The sixth day of the criminal hearing into the events at Hillcrest Primary School in December 2021 occurred on Tuesday at the Devonport Magistrates Court.

Taz-Zorb owner Rosemary Gamble has pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with health and safety duty category two in relation to the tragedy at Hillcrest, where six children died after a jumping castle became airborne.

During the cross-examination of mechanical engineer Rodrick McDonald – Ms Gamble’s lawyer, Chris Dockray, said that his client’s noncompliance with Australian standards “replicated that of East Inflatables”, the Chinese company that sold her the jumping castle.

Mr Dockray also accused the company of “flagrant noncompliance”, which Mr McDonald agreed with.

Mr McDonald’s report that was tendered as evidence outlined that the jumping castle could have become airborne at wind speeds between 71km/h and 87km/h.

Last week, while giving evidence, weather expert Nicholas Earl-Jones said the wind event that caused the jumping castle to become airborne could have been anywhere between 60km/h and 80km/h.

In his report, Mr McDonald said that Taz-Zorb had not taken measures to reduce the risk excessive wind speeds could pose to the safety of those on the jumping castle.

“It is reasonable to conclude that Taz-Zorb did not undertake adequate measures to ensure the anchorage system was compliant to Australian standards,” he said.

“Taz-Zorb modified the designed anchorage system when they were not competent to do so.”

The court also heard that if Taz-Zorb had used eight of the star pickets with carabiners they had with them for the jumping castle, the inflatable would have been able to withstand wind speeds between 109.8km/h and 119km/h.

Mr McDonald also said all the Taz-Zorb workers operating the jumping castle at Hillcrest Primary School were not competent or adequately trained on the day it went airborne.

Mr McDonald also said he believed “the training for all Taz-Zorb workers was inadequate”.

On Monday, he told the court that the inflatables involved in the incident at Hillcrest were not up to Australian standards.

Mr Dockray’s cross-examination of Mr McDonald is expected to continue on Wednesday morning.

UPDATE: The jumping castle at the centre of the Hillcrest tragedy could have become airborne in wind speeds between 71km/h to 87km/h, an expert witness has told a court during the criminal hearing into the incident.

Last week, while giving evidence, weather expert Nicholas Earl-Jones said that the wind event that caused the jumping castle to become airborne could have been anywhere between 60km/h and 80km/h.

Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle trial to begin in Devonport on November 5, 2024. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

In the report he provided as evidence for the Hillcrest hearing, Mechanical engineer Roderick McDonald said that Taz-Zorb had not taken measures to reduce the risk excessive wind speeds could pose to the safety of those on the jumping castle.

“It is reasonable to conclude that Taz-Zorb did not undertake adequate measures to ensure the anchorage system was compliant to Australian standards,” Mr McDonald said.

“Taz-Zorb modified the designed anchorage system when they were not competent to do so.”

The court also heard that if Taz-Zorb had used eight of the star pickets with carabiners they had with them for the jumping castle, the inflatable would have been able to withstand wind speeds between 109.8km/h and 119km/h.

Operator of Taz-Zorb Rosemary Gamble arrives at Devonport Magistrates Court. Picture: AAP Image/Ethan James

EARLIER: An expert witness told a court that all the Taz-Zorb workers operating the jumping castle at Hillcrest Primary School were not competent or adequately trained on the day it went airborne.

Mechanical engineer Roderick McDonald gave evidence during day six of the criminal hearing into the Hillcrest tragedy.

In a report he provided to the court, he said “it is highly likely that the Taz-Zorb operators present on the day of the incident could not be considered as competent”.

Mr McDonald also said he believed “the training for all Taz-Zorb workers was inadequate”.

Yesterday, he told the Devonport Magistrates Court that the inflatables involved in the incident at Hillcrest Primary School in December 2021 were not up to Australian standards.

INITIAL: Mechanical engineer Roderick McDonald is expected to continue giving evidence on day six of the criminal hearing into the Hillcrest tragedy.

Yesterday, he told the Devonport Magistrates Court that the inflatables involved in the incident at Hillcrest Primary School in December 2021 were not up to Australian standards.

Taz-Zorb owner Rosemary Gamble has pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with health and safety duty category 2 in relation to the tragedy at Hillcrest, where six children died after a jumping castle became airborne.

The nine-day hearing is expected to wrap up on Friday.

Originally published as Day six of trial into Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy to hear from mechanical engineer