Court Decision Pending in Hillcrest Jumping Castle Tragedy Case
The Devonport Magistrates Court will rule in June on whether the operator of the inflatable castle is criminally responsible for the 2021 accident that killed six children.
- Six children lost their lives and three others were seriously injured when a 'mini tornado' lifted a jumping castle at Hillcrest Primary School in December 2021.
- Rosemary Gamble, operator of the jumping castle, is accused of failing to comply with work health and safety standards, including insufficiently anchoring the castle with only four of the required eight tether points.
- The defense argued that the weather event was unforeseeable and that no measures could have prevented the tragedy, while the prosecution claimed proper anchoring could have averted it.
- Mechanical engineering experts presented conflicting testimony on whether the accident was preventable, with one asserting better anchoring would have secured the castle and another calling the event unavoidable.
- A verdict is expected on June 6, 2025, and a coronial inquest and civil class action are set to follow the criminal proceedings.
9News 
Australian Broadcasting Corporation 