A jury has begun its deliberations in the trial of two fairground workers accused of the gross negligence manslaughter of a girl who died after a bouncy castle blew away with her inside it.
Seven-year-old Summer Grant died in hospital after she was rescued from the inflatable at an Easter fair in Harlow, Essex, on March 26, 2016, a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
William Thurston, 29, and his wife Shelby, 26, deny manslaughter by gross negligence and a health and safety offence.
The defendants, of Whitecross Road in Wilburton, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, told the court that before the incident they had not thought winds were so strong that the inflatable was capable of blowing away.
Prosecutors said the defendants failed to ensure the bouncy castle was “adequately anchored” to the ground and failed to monitor weather conditions to ensure it was safe to use.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here