Young mother died on 29th birthday after pallet of bricks fell from crane at building site – as site manager, crane operator and supervisor appear in court
A young mother killed when more than two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane had just dropped her children off at school with a friend when tragedy struck, a court heard today.
Michaela Boor, 30, was walking along the pavement on the corner of Burdett Road in Bethnal Green, east London, when she was hit by a pallet of bricks that plummeted from a tower crane at a building site.
The mother-of-one suffered “very serious injuries” and died in hospital two days later – with her life support turned off the day after her 29th birthday, according to reports.
Now, seven years after the horrific incident, developer Higgins Homes Plc and four men have appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court facing manslaughter charges over her death.
The Devastating Morning That Changed Everything
Prosecutor Busola Johnson told the court that Ms Boor and her friend had just completed the school run on the morning of March 27, 2018, when disaster struck.
Ms Boor and her friend had dropped their children at school and were walking along the pavement when the incident happened,” Ms Johnson said.
The court heard the case surrounds “a fatal accident” in which Ms Boor was killed when a “large number of bricks” fell on her as she walked past the Higgins Homes building site on St Paul’s Way.
According to reports, the young mother was on her way to her son Kieran’s nursery when the incident occurred. She was reportedly found lying in a pile of rubble and broken wood.
Rushed to Hospital But Could Not Be Saved
Ms Johnson told the court: “Ms Boor suffered very serious injuries and received medical help at the scene and in hospital but died two days later.
The pallet that struck Ms Boor contained more than two tonnes of bricks that fell from a tower crane at the development site.
Despite desperate efforts to save her, including being rushed to hospital at approximately 9am that morning, the young mother’s injuries proved fatal.
Developer and Four Men Face Court
The defendants who appeared in court on Monday were:
Higgins Homes Plc – The building company, which operates across London, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire and Sussex, is accused of:
- Corporate manslaughter
- Health and safety offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Thomas Anstis, 68, of Banstead, Surrey – The site manager and temporary works coordinator, charged with:
Stephen Coulson, 68, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire – Responsible for compiling the lifting plan for the site, charged with:
- Gross negligence manslaughter
- Health and safety offence
Dawood Mann, 59, of Ashford, Kent – The crane supervisor, charged with:
- Gross negligence manslaughter
- Health and safety offence
Alexander McInnes, 32, of Islington, north London – The crane operator on the day of Ms Boor’s death, charged with:
- Gross negligence manslaughter
- Health and safety offence
Seven-Year Wait for Justice
The charges come following a joint investigation between the Metropolitan Police and the Health and Safety Executive, with the Met confirming that “specialist officers continue to support Michaela’s family.
All four men were charged by postal requisition between April 30 and May 8 this year, while Higgins Homes was charged on May 7 – more than seven years after the tragedy.
The defendants spoke only to confirm their identities during Monday’s hearing.
Released on Bail
Judge Briony Clarke granted bail to all defendants until their next court appearance at the Old Bailey on July 14.
The case highlights the devastating consequences when construction site safety procedures fail, leaving a young mother dead and her children without their parent.
As the legal proceedings continue, Ms Boor’s family faces the prospect of reliving their tragedy in court as they seek justice for their devastating loss.
Background to the Tragedy
The incident occurred at a Higgins Homes building development in St Paul’s Way, Bethnal Green, an area that has seen significant construction and regeneration in recent years.
Tower cranes are a common sight across London’s skyline as the capital continues its building boom, but this case serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences when safety standards are not maintained.
The Health and Safety Executive, which jointly investigated the incident with police, has strict regulations governing the use of cranes and the lifting of heavy materials on construction sites.
The forthcoming trial at the Old Bailey will examine whether these regulations were properly followed and whether the death of Ms Boor could have been prevented.
