The grieving family of one of the six students killed in Tasmania’s bouncy castle tragedy has lashed out at the justice system as the deadline for laying criminal charges approaches.
Hillcrest Primary School students Zane Mellor, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Peter Dodt, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, and Chace Hamilton, 11, died when a bouncy castle and several inflatable Zorb balls became lifted 10 meters into the air by a strong gust of wind in December 2021.
Three others were also seriously injured in the tragedy, but almost two years later no charges have been filed but have yet to be ruled out.
Now the grieving families face a new battle, with urgent calls for the lifting of time restrictions on filing charges.
In Tasmania, workplace safety laws state that charges must be brought within two years of an incident.
With this deadline fast approaching, there are only three months left before any charges can be filed.
A distressed parent described the process of seeking justice as ‘horrific in every sense of the word’.
Hillcrest Primary School pupils Zane Mellor, 12, Peter Dodt, Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Jye Sheehan (pictured clockwise from top left) died in the bouncy castle tragedy
Prosecutors only have until December 16 to file charges over the Hillcrest Primary School bouncy castle tragedy (pictured)
“The two-year limit should be formally waived,” they said 7news.com.auhighlighting that the trauma extended beyond the affected families to include Hillcrest teachers, staff, students, first responders, hospital staff and the entire community of Tasmania.
Adding to the families’ nightmare, preparations for an inquest into the students’ deaths were suspended in February.
The inquest was told WorkSafe Tasmania refused to hand over documents to the coroner because it could harm the regulator’s own investigation and possible prosecutions.
The Supreme Court of Tasmania was told in July that the documents included an engineering report and statements from three TaZorb employees and two education department employees.
WorkSafe Tasmania lawyer Michael O’Farrell SC told the court that releasing the documents could jeopardize possible prosecutions and further investigations.
Families are calling for an end to time limits on filing charges. Devastated residents are pictured paying tribute a day after the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School
He indicated the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had a WorkSafe Tasmania report and was still considering whether to prosecute.
“The matter remains under investigation and that is an important part of our claim in this case,” O’Farrell said.
He said allowing the coroner access to the documents could lead to a scenario where the DPP could say there was insufficient admissible evidence to prosecute.
The coroner’s investigation has concluded and witnesses have given statements.
Flowers, hugs and tributes are seen outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania in December 2021
The community of Devonport will commemorate the two-year anniversary of the tragedy in December. The photo shows the one-year commemorations of 2022