Two companies have been found guilty of health and safety breaches following the death of coach driver Mick Ferris. Mr Ferris, 53, was killed in October 2018 when a 130kg window fell 300ft from a penthouse flat at The Corniche tower block on Albert Embankment in central London.
St James Group Ltd and specialist contractors Lindner Prater Ltd were convicted at Inner London Crown Court. The court heard they failed to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Both firms are scheduled to be sentenced on 24 September.
During the trial, it was revealed that a window panel had previously fallen from the same development in August 2017, but the design was not significantly altered. Prosecutors stated that the final window design was unsafe, as it opened outwards and was held by a single metal restrictor, making it susceptible to being prised off by wind.
Foster + Partners, the architecture firm, and engineering consultants Wintech Ltd were cleared of the same charges.