00:00The Devonport Magistrates Court has heard the Hillcrest tragedy could have been avoided
00:07if a different anchorage system was used. That's according to Roderick McDonald, an
00:12inflatables expert, who will continue giving evidence in the criminal hearing against the
00:17castle's operator today. Nearly three years ago, during an end-of-year celebration at
00:22Hillcrest Primary School, a jumping castle was propelled into the air, killing six children
00:27and injuring three others. Its operator, Rosemary Ann Gamble, has pleaded not guilty to failing
00:34to comply with a health and safety duty, with the defence arguing she took all the reasonable
00:39steps she ought to have known to ensure everyone was safe. The court has heard four pegs were
00:44used to secure it, at half of its eight anchor points, and that star pickets were available
00:50on the day, but weren't used as they were considered a tripping hazard. Mr McDonald
00:54told the court if eight star pickets were used instead of the four pegs, the castle
00:59would have endured the wind event. He also said if Ms Gamble used eight of the manufacturer's
01:05pegs, it potentially could have withstood it. He also said she failed to meet a number
01:10of Australian standards and was not a competent operator of a jumping castle, but her defence
01:16claims she acted on the manufacturer's instructions. Mr McDonald will continue giving evidence
01:21today with further questioning from Ms Gamble's defence team. The hearing is expected to wrap
01:27up at the end of the week, though it could be next year that a verdict is handed down.
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