Inflatable castle operator clears in tragedy, killing six children

In 2021, an Australian Flexible Castle operator caused the killing of six children at the Tragedy Centre and three people who were seriously injured were removed from the violation of safety laws.

The court found that Rosemary Anne Gamble, who runs the Taz-Zorb business, was not guilty, and ruled that the incident was "unpredictable" due to an unprecedented weather system.

On Elementary School Entertainment Day in Devonport, Tasmania, the victims blew up the castle at a resilient castle in a strong wind at a school fair, about 10 million (33 feet).

Friday's verdict caused pain to family members, and some were incredibly yelling in court, according to ABC News.

Prosecutors accused Ms. Gamble of failed to fully anchor the castle, but her defense argued that she could not do more to eliminate the harm that caused the tragedy or reduce it.

Magistrate Robert Webster agreed with the defense and found that the incident occurred due to the dust devil (the dusty air and debris vortex), which was "unforeseeable and unforeseeable."

"Ms. Gamble could have done more or taken further steps, but given the unforeseen and unforeseen dust devil's influence in her doing so, this had no effect on the end result," the referee said.

The six children who died in the accident - Addison Stewart, Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne -Maree Jones, Peter Dodt and Chace Harrison - were between 11 and 12 years old.

They both attended the Hillcrest Elementary School Fair when the accident occurred on the last day before the school holiday in December 2021.

Five children were on the castle as the wind swept through and threw it onto the oval of the school.

The sixth child waiting in line died after being hit by an inflatable blower in the head.

The tragic accident destroyed Devonport, a city on Tasmania's north coast with about 30,000 residents.

In November 2023, Ms. Gamble was charged for nearly two years.

"Our hope is now broken," Andrew Dodt, the father of a young victim Peter, said after Friday's verdict.

"At the end of the day, all I want is an apology for my son not to go home, I will never get it, it will kill me," he said in a statement from local media.

“I’ve been broken for a long time and I think I’ll be broken for more.”

Ms Gamble's lawyer, Bethan Frake, spoke on her behalf, acknowledging that the incident had caused "the scar will last for a long time and may be forever".

"I'm a mother," she quoted Ms. Gamble. “I can only imagine the pain of other parents living with them every day because of the horrible things that happen."

“Their losses are something I will carry with me throughout my life.”