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Firm admits safety failures after Storm Doris death | Firm admits safety failures after Storm Doris death |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A company has admitted breaching health and safety laws after a woman was killed by a tank cover falling from a shopping centre during Storm Doris. | A company has admitted breaching health and safety laws after a woman was killed by a tank cover falling from a shopping centre during Storm Doris. |
Tahnie Martin, 29, from Stafford, was hit by the rotten wooden panel outside Wolverhampton's Mander Shopping Centre in February 2017. | Tahnie Martin, 29, from Stafford, was hit by the rotten wooden panel outside Wolverhampton's Mander Shopping Centre in February 2017. |
An inquest found the panel may not have been maintained for almost 20 years. | An inquest found the panel may not have been maintained for almost 20 years. |
Cushman Wakefield Debenham Tie Leung Ltd - which managed the centre at the time - is facing a substantial fine. | Cushman Wakefield Debenham Tie Leung Ltd - which managed the centre at the time - is facing a substantial fine. |
The company pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court after the city council pursued legal action. | |
Ms Martin, who worked at the University of Wolverhampton, had recently got engaged when she was killed on 23 February. | Ms Martin, who worked at the University of Wolverhampton, had recently got engaged when she was killed on 23 February. |
She suffered serious head injuries and died at the scene. | She suffered serious head injuries and died at the scene. |
Her fiancé Shaun Lee previously said they were planning a family and "she had so much to live for". | Her fiancé Shaun Lee previously said they were planning a family and "she had so much to live for". |
After the hearing, Richard Phillips, from City of Wolverhampton Council, flanked by Ms Martin's parents Jim and Rosie, described her as "a popular, beautiful and ambitious young woman". | |
Ms Martin's death "simply should not have happened," Mr Phillips said. | |
"Had the defendant fulfilled its legal duty... she would still be here with her family." | |
The wooden panel came from the lid of a redundant water tank and fell six storeys from the roof of the shopping centre on to Dudley Street as winds of up to 94mph were recorded. | The wooden panel came from the lid of a redundant water tank and fell six storeys from the roof of the shopping centre on to Dudley Street as winds of up to 94mph were recorded. |
An inquest into her death found three clasps attached to the tank were "rotten and weather-damaged" and the panel "became detached from the plant room roof of the building due to strong winds, caused by Storm Doris". | An inquest into her death found three clasps attached to the tank were "rotten and weather-damaged" and the panel "became detached from the plant room roof of the building due to strong winds, caused by Storm Doris". |
Jurors heard it was "blown around like a piece of paper" when it fell from the building. | Jurors heard it was "blown around like a piece of paper" when it fell from the building. |
Colin Wilson, chief executive of Cushman Wakefield Debenham Tie Leung Ltd, said the company "very much regret" Ms Martin's death and that it had "learnt lessons". | |
The firm will be sentenced next month. | The firm will be sentenced next month. |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |