Hillcrest School jumping castle operator pleads not guilty to health and safety charge

Rosemary Gamble, the jumping castle operator charged with workplace safety breaches over the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy of December 2021 in which six children died has pleaded not guilty to health and safety charge in Court today.

In the Devonport Magistrates Court, Gamble, who traded as Taz-Zorb, this morning entered a plea of not guilty to a failure to comply with health and safety duty.

Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt were killed after the inflatable castle being operated by Taz-Zorb was lifted into the air during the pre-Christmas school event in 2021.

She was granted bail and is expected to next appear in Court in March.

At that next session, Gamble's lawyer will indicate whether expert evidence will be pursued, and if they have any witness issues.

Magistrate Duncan Fairley said he was mindful that "significant" time had passed since the school tragedy, and that he is eager for the trial to commence soon.

It is alleged the castle was tethered at only four of its eight anchorage points, that pegs were not installed at the recommended 45-degree angle and pegs recommended by the manufacturer, or a suitable alternative, weren't used.

According to court documents, seven students were on the inflatable device when a 'significant' weather event occurred, causing it to become dislodged and airborne.

They fell from the device, while a blower attached to the castle to keep it inflated struck a nearby student.

It is also claimed that workers did not receive the necessary information, training, instruction and supervision to properly set up the device, with the total of these actions having exposed the children to "a risk of serious injury or death".

A profanity was yelled at Gamble from the parent one of the deceased as she exited the Court building.

Image: A jumping castle understood to be similar to the one at the centre of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy. Credit: Taz-Zorb website.