Old Bailey hears mother Michaela Boor was killed by bricks falling from a crane on school run
A trial at the Old Bailey heard that Michaela Boor died after a pallet of bricks fell from a tower crane onto a Bow pavement in March 2018. Higgins Homes and four men deny corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety charges.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Old Bailey has heard that mother-of-one Michaela Boor was killed when a pallet of bricks fell from a tower crane onto her as she walked past a building site in Bow, east London, on 27 March 2018. Evening StandardN “A mother-of-one was crushed to death by falling bricks while walking home from the school run past a building site in east London, the Old Bailey has heard.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “A mother was crushed to death on the school run when a pile of bricks dropped on her head as she walked past a construction site, a court has heard.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC told jurors that Ms Boor and her friend Chelsea Mustafa had dropped their children at a primary school on St Paul's Way, then walked along Burdett Road to Lidl and Tesco because it was Ms Boor's birthday the next day. Daily MirrorL “They had dropped their children at a primary school on St Paul's Way. They had both walked along Burdett Road to go to Lidl and Tesco” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “it was Michaela's birthday the following day and she wanted to buy some things.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2On the way back their route took them past a site being developed by Higgins Homes plc, where a pallet of bricks being carried by a tower crane towards a loading bay beside the pavement fell on them. Evening StandardN “A pallet of bricks that was being transported by a tower crane towards a loading bay immediately adjacent to the pavement along Burdett Way fell on to them.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “Their route took them past a construction site that was being developed by Higgins Homes plc.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2Ms Mustafa ran into the road and, although some bricks hit her on the back and hand, avoided the bulk of the load; Ms Boor did not get off the pavement and suffered a fractured skull and catastrophic brain injuries. Daily MirrorL “Michaela Boor did not make it off the pavement. She was hit by the falling bricks which fractured her skull and she sustained catastrophic brain injuries.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Evening StandardN “Ms Mustafa managed to run into the road and escape the bulk of the falling bricks, although she was struck on the back and hand.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2She was treated at the scene and taken to the Royal London Hospital, but despite surgery her injuries were described as "unsurvivable" and she died two days later, on 29 March. Evening StandardN “She was treated at the scene and taken to the Royal London Hospital, where doctors attempted surgery.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “she died two days later on March 29, jurors were told.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Higgins Homes, the principal contractor and designer of the block of flats, is charged with corporate manslaughter and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act, which it denies. Daily MailR “Higgins Homes was the principal contractor and designer of the project to build a block of flats where Ms Boor was fatally injured.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “The firm is charged with corporate manslaughter and a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act which it denies.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 3Four men are each charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence, and deny both: Thomas Anstis, 69, of Banstead, the senior site manager and temporary work co-ordinator employed by Higgins Homes; Stephen Coulson, 69, of Hemel Hempstead, director of Coulson Lifting Services and the appointed person who planned the lifting operations; Dawood Maan, 61, of Ashford, Kent, the self-employed crane supervisor; and Alexander McInnes, 34, of Islington, the self-employed crane operator working for London Tower Cranes. Evening StandardN “The four men are charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence, which they deny.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “Alexander McInnes, 34, of Islington; Dawood Maan, 61, of Ashford, Kent; Stephen Coulson, 69, of Hemel Hempstead; and Thomas Anstis, 69, of Banstead” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily MirrorL “Alexander McInnes, 34, of Islington, north London, was the crane operator who was self-employed, working for contractor London Tower Cranes.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Ms Healy said Mr Coulson did not need to be permanently on site but should have visited periodically to check whether anything required a change to the lift plan, and that he was not on site on the day. Evening StandardN “Ms Healy said it was not necessary for him to be permanently on site, but he must periodically visit the site to see whether any factors had changed which might necessitate a change to the lift plan.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “On the day of the incident, he was not on the site.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail reported that no one was charged until May 2025 while police and the Health and Safety Executive investigated, after which the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division authorised charges following a review of evidence from the HSE and Metropolitan Police. Daily MailR “Until May 2025, no one had been charged with her death while police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 3Outlets differ on Ms Boor's age, with the Daily Mirror and Evening Standard giving 29 and the Daily Mail 28. The trial continues. Daily MailR “Mother-of-one Michaela Boor, 28, died from catastrophic brain injuries” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “Michaela Boor, 29, suffered catastrophic head injuries” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “The Old Bailey trial continues.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A short, court-report account of the prosecution opening, led by the school-run detail and the death on the pavement; this is PA agency copy carried by the Daily Mirror.
- Emphasis
- The prosecutor's description of the walk, the fall and the defendants' roles.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the delay until May 2025 before charges or the CPS review.
- Charged language
- “horrific incident”
- For example
-
“A mother was crushed to death on the school run when a pile of bricks dropped on her head as she walked past a construction site, a court has heard.” — Daily Mirror
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Straight court report (PA copy) leading with the victim's age and the school run, followed by the prosecutor's account.
- Emphasis
- The sequence of events, injuries and the defendants' responsibilities.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 2025 charging decision or the HSE and police investigation.
- Charged language
- “devastating brain injuries”
- For example
-
“Ms Boor was unable to get clear and was hit by the load, suffering a fractured skull and devastating brain injuries.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Daily Mail's own report, with a more emotive lead and extra background on the investigation and charging decision.
- Emphasis
- Victim's death in vivid terms, plus the years-long delay before charges and the CPS authorisation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives Ms Boor's age as 28, unlike the other two, and says she died 'the next day' before stating 29 March.
- Charged language
- “crushed to death”“Tragically”“came crashing down”
- For example
-
“Mother was crushed to death by pile of bricks on the school run as she walked past building site, court told” — Daily Mail
“Tragically, the young mother, who was walking with Chelsea Mustafa at the time of the incident, died in hospital the next day.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Michaela Boor was hit by a pallet of bricks that fell from a tower crane beside a building site on Burdett Road, Bow, on 27 March 2018.
- She was taken to the Royal London Hospital and died on 29 March; her injuries were described as unsurvivable.
- Higgins Homes and four men deny all charges and the Old Bailey trial continues.
- The prosecutor was Alexandra Healy KC.
Where accounts differ
-
Ms Boor's age
- Left
- Daily Mirror (PA copy) says 29.
- Centre
- Evening Standard (PA copy) says 29.
- Right
- Daily Mail says 28.
-
A pallet of bricks being moved by a tower crane fell onto Michaela Boor on a Bow pavement on 27 March 2018.
Reported- Reports 3
- Daily Mirror, Evening Standard, Daily Mail
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Higgins Homes and four men deny the corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety charges.
Reported- Reports 3
- Daily Mirror, Evening Standard, Daily Mail
-
Michaela Boor was 29 when she died.
Reported- Reports 2
- Daily Mirror, Evening Standard
- Earlier 1
- Daily Mail
Michaela Boor person
Ms Boor is presented through the prosecution's account as a mother walking back from the shops on the eve of her birthday who could not get clear of the falling load.
“Michaela Boor did not make it off the pavement.” — Daily Mirror
Old Bailey place
The Old Bailey is where jurors heard the prosecution opening; the trial continues.
“Opening the case on Monday, prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
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Daily MirrorL · · via PA
Neutral PA court report centred on the prosecutor's opening and the defendants' roles.
Centre2 articles
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-
Evening StandardN · · via PA
Mother, 29, killed by falling bricks on London school run, Old Bailey hears
Neutral PA court report leading with the victim's age and the school run.
Right1 article
-
Sympathetic Emotive lead and extra background on the delayed charging decision.
- 5 Oct 13:17 First Daily MailR Mother was crushed to death by pile of bricks on the school run as she walked past building site, court told
- 5 Oct 13:38 +21m BBC NewsN Mother killed by falling bricks, court told
- 5 Oct 15:18 +2h 1m Daily MirrorL Mum was on school run when she was killed by falling bricks on pavement near building site, trial hears via PA
- 5 Oct 15:22 +2h 5m Evening StandardN Mother, 29, killed by falling bricks on London school run, Old Bailey hears via PA
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.