Builder’s negligence ‘led to worker’s death’

A builder’s failure to secure the area around a garage he was employed to demolish led to one of his four workers being crushed to death by falling masonry, a court heard.

Paramjit Singh, 48, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 64-year-old Kulwant Singh Athwal, from Southampton, Hants.

Shauna Ritchie, prosecuting, said the defendant had failed to fence off the area, put up warning signs or carry out a site survey before pulling down a garage in Chilworth, Hampshire, in July 2019. He had only verbally advised one of his crew to stay two metres away, she said. The trial continues.