‘Throw the book at them’: Family fights for justice as Curtin Uni ‘roof collapse’ builders appear in court

The grieving mother of an apprentice glazier killed during a roof collapse at a Curtin University building site says she hopes the two companies charged in relation to the death “get the book thrown at them”.

Jonathan Hartshorn, 23, suffered fatal injuries at the Bentley campus in October 2020 after falling 20 metres when the glass roof of a five-storey partly constructed building gave way.

The family of Jonnie Hartshorn speak outside court, his mother Susan Chappell, in the middle.Credit: Heather McNeill

Nearly three years to the day of his death, WorkSafe laid charges against steel fabrication company Elsdon for failing to ensure the safety and health of persons not being their employees and causing the death of Hartshorn and serious harm to his colleague. Design company Stantec Australia Ltd was also charged with failing to ensure the health or safety of a person who was not an employee.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of up to $2 million, with the state’s new industrial laws, which include potential lengthy jail sentences for individuals, not passed until 18 months after the incident.

During its first appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Stantec Australia pleaded not guilty and is expected to face trial in 2025. Elsdon is yet to enter a plea.

Hartshorn’s mother Susan Chappell attended the hearing, along with about a dozen of her son’s family and friends, some wearing “Justice for Jonnie” T-shirts.

“This is only the beginning of such a lengthy process, it’s already been a long time to get to this point,” she said, adding her family had rallied for the new industrial manslaughter laws to pass in memory of her son.

“If charges and fines is all they get for Justice for Jonnie, I hope they get the book thrown at them. My fingers are crossed for a guilty judgment only knowing Jonnie deserves so much more than this.

“He was a beautiful young man … he was everybody’s friend and just the best natured person – a larrikin, a hard worker.”

Prior to the charges being laid in relation to Hartshorn’s death, WorkSafe investigators reassembled the roof that partially collapsed in a site in Welshpool in a bid to determine what caused the structure to fail.

Up to eight officers worked full-time examining the welding, composition of the steel, work procedures in place at the construction site, and training of staff.

Two other men were seriously injured in the incident. One, aged 27, was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital and underwent emergency surgery after also falling from the roof.

A third worker, also 27, was on a lower level of the building when he was dragged down by the falling structure and fell 10 metres.

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