Pupils to be called to give evidence in schoolgirl’s wall death inquiry

Former classmates of an Edinburgh schoolgirl who died when a wall collapsed are to give evidence in a bid to shed fresh light on the moments leading up to her death.

Liberton High School pupil Keane Wallis-bennett died when a freestanding “modesty wall” in the school’s PE block collapsed on her in April 2014.

The inquiry previously heard evidence from pupils in the changing room at the time when their police statements were read out to spare them the anxiety of appearing in court.

Advocate Gavin Ander- 0 Keane Wallis-bennett died when ‘modesty wall’ collapsed son, who is representing the 12-year-old’s parents, said it was necessary to call the pupils – who will give evidence from a remote location by video link – after the court heard from Mark Hatfield, a special- ist inspector of the Health and Safety Executive.

Appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Mr Hatfield said he could not “definitively” say why the wall fell at the moment it did on the morning of Keane’s death.

The court has previously heard from pupils that two children had leaned against the wall to change their shoes in the moments before it fell.

However, Mr Hatfield said he did not believe this activity would have exerted enough force to topple the wall.

He said: “Changing rooms can be boisterous places and horseplay should be anticipated.”

The inquiry continues.