Trial told of St Catherine’s House lift fall tragedy

Published: 19th May, 2011
by DAVID ST GEORGE

GRIEVING relatives of a worker who plunged to his death down a lift shaft were in court at the Old Bailey this week to hear details of the tragedy unfold.

The trial of two firms which deny allegations under Health and Safety laws is being heard before a jury. Companies Swift Horsman and Structuretone were revamping St Catherine’s House, in Kingsway, Holborn, when Christopher White died in August 2007.

Mr White, 45, from Kent, was last seen on the seventh floor of the nine-storey building. He and a colleague used a lift which could only be operated by a key kept for the fire brigade.

It is claimed that he stepped inside the lift opening in the dark, unaware there was no lift at that level. His body was found at the bottom of the shaft in an accident “which shouldn’t have happened”, the court was told. 

The case continues.