German rink builder admits faults

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A retired German engineer has admitted he was partly to blame for construction faults that led to the deaths of 15 people when an ice rink roof collapsed.

Walter Grimm, 67, told a court in Bavaria he had miscalculated the weight of snow the roof would have to bear when building the rink in the 1970s.

Twelve children and three women died in the accident at Bad Reichenhall rink in southern Germany in January 2006.

Three other men also face charges in relation to the incident.

Architect Rolf Reichers, 63, and building engineer Ruediger Spitzauer, 54, have both denied responsibility.

Mr Reichers said he had just finished his studies when it was built and had little responsibility for the project.

Court documents say Mr Spitzauer said the rink was in a good state in a report to local authorities in 2003.

An earlier inquiry found that neglect and long-term damage had caused the accident.

'Reckless' decision

Walter Grimm (left) has received counselling since the accidentMr Grimm, who has received psychiatric counselling since the disaster, told the court in Traunstein that he had decided to use non-standard roof beams.

"I believed that I could do it like this, otherwise I would not have proceeded," he said.

"Maybe I was too reckless, I admit that."

Another architect who worked for the Bad Reichenhall council between 1971 and 1973 has been ill and will only stand trial once he has recovered.

A fourth man charged in connection with the accident died last month.