Final day of Hillcrest hearing: Last expert takes the stand

On the final hearing day for the operator of the jumping castle which killed six children when it became airborne, the last expert took to the witness stand. Here’s what was said on the last day.

Rosemary Gamble operator of Taz-Zorb at Devonport Magistrates Court. Trial into the jumping castle tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. Picture: Simon McGuire

The families of children killed or injured during the Hillcrest Jumping Castle tragedy will have to wait until early next year for a verdict in the case against Taz-Zorb owner Rosemary Gamble.

Ms Gamble will find out her fate on February 17 for the events of December 16, 2021, at Hillcrest Primary School, when six children died after the jumping castle she operated became airborne.

The criminal hearing for the Hillcrest tragedy wrapped up on Monday after ten days of evidence were presented at the Devonport Magistrate Court.

The defence has until 5pm on January 31 to file its final submissions, and the prosecution has until the close of business on February 14 to respond.

Ms Gamble has pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with health and safety duty category 2.

Lawyer Chris Dockray representing Rosemary Gamble. Trial into the jumping castle tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

GHD Senior Technical Director Ashok Peiris was the final person to take to the stand and give evidence for the Hillcrest hearing.

He was meant to begin giving evidence around 11.30am on Monday.

However, that was delayed after the prosecution submitted a number of objections to parts of Dr Peiris’ report that was tendered as evidence.

But when Magistrate Robert Webster returned after lunch, he ruled against all of the objections, leaving the report unchanged.

In his report, Dr Peiris said that East Inflatables - the company that sold Ms Gamble the jumping castle involved in the tragedy - should have provided her with an anchorage requirement as specified in the Australian standards.

He also told the court that Ms Gamble did not anchor the jumping castle properly.

However, Dr Peiris said in his expert report that the “excessive uplift force applied to the jumping castle by the wind event, failure of the jumping castle would have occurred with the pegs installed in accordance with Australian standards”.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Emily Bill posed to Dr Peiris that the positions of the four pegs Ms Gamble used to hold down the inflatable exposed three faces of the castle and the leading edge.

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

He responded by saying that he “can’t agree to that”.

The families of the six children who died in the tragedy have piled into the court each day to listen to the proceedings.

Ms Gamble has also attended court daily - often alongside her partner of 14 years, Robert Monte.

Mr Monte gave evidence earlier during the hearing as he worked for Taz-Zorb on the day of the tragedy.

While on the witness stand, he also described when the jumping castle became airborne.

“I looked up, and the castle was in the air. It went straight up; it swirled as it went,” Mr Monte said.

“I just ran. I ran after the castle. Halfway across the field, I got knocked down by the Zorb ball arena barrier.

“It came down and hit me, then landed in a tree behind. I went down to try and help the kids.”