New Zeaander Jacob Marx and his girlfriend Natalie Chung. Marx was killed by a shop sign that fell on his head in Camden London January 2013. Photo / Facebook
New Zeaander Jacob Marx and his girlfriend Natalie Chung. Marx was killed by a shop sign that fell on his head in Camden London January 2013. Photo / Facebook
A 200kg sign which fell two metres from a betting shop and crushed and killed a young New Zealand lawyer was found to have been "dangerously insecure for a long period of time".
Jacob Marx, 27, had been living and working in London for four months before he was hit by the sign, which was covering a William Hill bookmakers on Camden Road, north London, in 2013.
The scene outside the Camden Road William Hill betting shop, after Jacob Marx was killed by a falling sign. Photo / Getty
Marx suffered a broken neck and fractured skull after he was hit just before 5pm on January 28, reports Daily Mail.
He died about an hour after being struck by the "dangerously insecure" sign, Blackfriars Crown Court heard yesterday.
William Hill Organisation have denied breaching health and safety duties in the case, which was brought by the borough of Camden.
Opening the prosecution case, James Ageros QC told jurors: "The sign was insecurely fixed on to a wooden subframe, and parts of the subframe were insecurely fixed to each other.
"The sign had been dangerously insecure for a long period of time and could equally have fallen on any other passerby, customer or indeed employee.
Jacob Marx had only been in London for four months when he was killed. Here, he is pictured with his girlfriend Natalie Chung. Photo / Supplied
"Mr Marx was spectacularly unlucky to be in just the wrong place at just the wrong time."
The bookmaker had enlisted various subcontractors to carry out the fittings, with work starting on the sign in 2006, jurors heard.
Ageros added: "William Hill had the overriding and overall duty that what was done on its behalf was safe and did not present a risk to the public."
William Hill Organisation has been charged with one count of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees and one count of failing to ensure the safety of employees, both contrary to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the time, several people lifted the hoarding off him but by the time paramedics arrive he went into cardiac arrest.
He was later pronounced dead at University College Hospital.
Jacob was originally from Gisbourne, east New Zealand, where he was a lawyer having graduated from the University of Auckland.
He had been in the UK with his girlfriend Natalie Chung since September 2012.
William Hill is in court over the fatal incident. Photo / Getty
Jacob's brother David said after his death: "Jacob was a wonderful person, a special part of our family, and a much-loved friend and partner.
"Losing him so quickly and so far away is very hard for us to come to terms with. We thank everyone for the love and kind support we've received as we try to grapple with what has happened."
A card left at the scene of his death, dedicated to "Jacko" and placed beside bunches of flowers and a New Zealand flag, is believed to have been left by his girlfriend.
A message said: "This is not how it was supposed to go.
"We had so many good plans and so many good memories. I promise never to forget you."
Staff at the law firm where he had been working in New Zealand, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, said all his colleagues had been stunned by the tragedy.
One of the directors, Richard Blackburn, said: "Jacob was a bright young lawyer who worked hard, produced excellent quality work and made lots of friends at our firm.
"Jacob left on good terms in 2010 to transfer to our Sydney office. He kept in touch, and we expected to see him again."
