Rosemary Anne Gamble, the operator of Taz-Zorb, was found not guilty of breaching safety laws related to a bouncy castle accident that resulted in the deaths of six children in Devonport, Tasmania. The court ruled that the incident was caused by an unpredictable weather phenomenon, which the defense argued was beyond Ms. Gamble's control, leaving grieving families expressing their anguish following the verdict.
Court Rules Bouncy Castle Operator Not Guilty Following 2021 Tragedy
Court Rules Bouncy Castle Operator Not Guilty Following 2021 Tragedy
An Australian court finds the operator of a bouncy castle, involved in a deadly accident that claimed six children's lives, not guilty of safety law violations.
An Australian court has acquitted a bouncy castle operator involved in a tragic incident in 2021 that resulted in the deaths of six children and serious injuries to three others. Rosemary Anne Gamble, who operates Taz-Zorb, was found not guilty of breaching safety regulations after a judge ruled that the disaster was caused by an "unprecedented weather system" that could not have been anticipated.
The heartbreaking incident unfolded during a primary school event in Devonport, Tasmania, where a strong gust of wind sent the bouncy castle soaring approximately 10 meters (33 feet) into the air. During the accident, six children lost their lives, including Addison Stewart, Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt, and Chace Harrison, all aged between 11 and 12.
In court, prosecutors accused Ms. Gamble of improperly anchoring the bounce castle, but her defense maintained that the unforeseen weather conditions made it impossible to mitigate the risks adequately. Magistrate Robert Webster sided with the defense's argument, stating that although Ms. Gamble could have potentially taken more safety measures, the exceptional nature of the dust devil that caused the disaster was unforeseeable.
The emotional verdict stirred anguish among the families of the victims, with Andrew Dodt, the father of one of the deceased, conveying his devastation outside the courtroom. He lamented the lack of an apology for his son, voicing feelings of deep grief and loss. Similarly, Ms. Gamble's lawyer, Bethan Frake, expressed sympathy for the families impacted by the tragedy and acknowledged the lasting emotional scars experienced by all involved.
This tragic event has left an indelible mark on the small community of Devonport, which is home to about 30,000 residents, deeply mourning the loss of young lives and grappling with undertones of sorrow intertwined within the ruling.
