Hearing into Hillcrest tragedy to run between November 5 to 15 in the Devonport Magistrates Court

Over nine days, the circumstances and events leading up to the deaths of six children will be analysed as the jumping castle operator at the centre of the Hillcrest tragedy fights charges against her.

Tributes at Hillcrest Primary School.

he six children who died in the Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy should be in high school now.

Instead, they continue to be grieved by their family and friends almost three years after the horrific incident at the primary school in Devonport.

The circumstances and events leading up to the tragedy will be under scrutiny during a nine-day hearing in the Devonport Magistrates Court, starting Tuesday.

Rosemary Gamble (middle) leaving the Devonport Magistrates Court. Picture: Simon McGuire.

Rosemary Gamble, owner of jumping castle company Taz-Zorb, has pleaded not guilty to one count of failing to comply with health and safety duty category 2. A category 2 offence is when a person is exposed to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.

Students Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Jalailah Jayne-Marie Jones, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Chace Harrison were killed at Hillcrest Primary School on December 16, 2021, after being flung about 10m into the air while inside an inflatable jumping castle.

Devonport Magistrates Court

From Tuesday, the court will hear from a number of witnesses and experts.

A geotechnical engineer, an inflatables expert, and even employees of the Chinese company that made the jumping castle at the centre of the incident, are just some of those being called to appear.

Given the public’s interest in the hearing, a video feed is being sent to the Paranaple Centre, about 500m from the Devonport Magistrates Court, for the public to watch the proceedings.

The Hillcrest hearing will begin at the Devonport Magistrates Court on Tuesday at 9.45am.