28-year-old Michaela Boor was killed after being struck in east London more than seven years ago

Higgins Homes has been charged with corporate manslaughter and safety offences following the death of a woman in east London more than seven years ago.

Michaela Boor, 28, was struck by a pallet containing more than two tonnes of bricks that fell from a tower crane on a Higgins Homes building development in St Pauls Way in Bethnal Green on the morning of 27 March, 2018. She died in hospital the following day.

In a statement, the Met Police said: “The charges follow an investigation by the Met and the Health and Safety Executive.

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The police said four men will appear at Westminster magistrates next month

“Higgins Homes PLC, a construction company that develops and builds properties across London and the south east, was charged by postal requisition on Wednesday, 7 May with corporate manslaughter and offences under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.”

The police said that four men have also been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and safety offences.

They are:

  • Alexander McInnes, 32, Islington, a crane operator
  • Dawood Maan, 59, of Ashford Kent, a crane supervisor
  • Stephen Coulson, 68, of Hemel Hempstead responsible for compiling the lifting plan
  • Thomas Anstis, 68, of Banstead, the Site Manager and Temporary Works Coordinator

Higgins and the four men were charged between 30 April and 8 May with the four due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 June.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are now active and that they have the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Higgins has been contacted for comment.

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