A mother was fatally injured when a pile of bricks fell on her as she walked past a construction site in east London, according to testimony at the Old Bailey. Michaela Boor, 29, suffered catastrophic head injuries after the incident on March 27, 2018, and died two days later at the Royal London Hospital.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC described how Ms. Boor was walking in Bow with a friend, Chelsea Mustafa, when the bricks fell from a building site managed by Higgins Homes. While Ms. Mustafa managed to avoid most of the debris, sustaining only minor injuries, Ms. Boor was struck on the pavement and suffered a fractured skull and severe brain trauma.

Despite undergoing surgery, Ms. Boor’s injuries were deemed unsurvivable, and she passed away one day after her birthday. Higgins Homes faces charges of corporate manslaughter and a violation of the Health and Safety at Work Act, charges which the company denies.

Four workers employed by Higgins Homes — senior site manager Thomas Anstis, 69, lift planner Stephen Coulson, 69, crane supervisor Dawood Maan, 61, and crane operator Alexander McInnes, 34 — are also on trial. Each faces charges of gross negligence manslaughter, all of which they deny.

The trial is ongoing as the court examines the circumstances surrounding the incident and the responsibility of the individuals and the company involved.