Date set for hearing over Casa hotel balcony collapse

Emergency services attend balcony collapse at Casa, Brighouse.

Casa Events Limited and Castelite Limited have both admitted failing to discharge their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and a hearing was due to take place later this month.

A judge was due to hear evidence and legal arguments on October 15 before passing sentence on the firms.

But today (Thursday) the Recorder of Bradford Judge Roger Thomas QC said it would make more sense for the hearing to be put back until December so that Castelite Limited could also be sentenced at the same time in relation to a separate offence of failing to comply with an enforcement notice.

Five people were injured in February 2013 when the balcony suddenly gave way as a group of women were being shown around a bridal suite at the Casa Hotel on Ellland Road.

At the time of the incident it was reported that hotel owner Jack McDaid had been airlifted to hospital with head injuries and four women were taken to the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

A new hearing has now been fixed for two days beginning on December 3, but the judge was told that the date might have to change if there were difficulties with prosecution witnesses attending.