Grieving mother lashes out at bouncy castle operator as she appears in court for safety breaches, pleads not guilty

A grieving mother has expressed her anger at the operator of a bouncy castle company, who pleaded not guilty to workplace safety breaches following the deaths of six Tasmanian primary school students.

Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt were killed when an inflatable castle was lifted into the air in December 2021. Three children were also seriously injured.

They enjoyed end-of-year celebrations with classmates at the Hillcrest Primary School oval in Devonport, Tasmania's north-west.

Rosemary Anne Gamble, the owner of Taz-Zorb who supplied and installed the castle, was charged in November with failing to comply with workplace health and safety requirements.

Ms Gamble appeared before the Devonport Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded not guilty.

She was granted bail and the case is due back in court in March.

Georgie Burt, Zane's mother, sat several seats away from Gamble during the brief court appearance.

“Our children are dead because of you, you heartless bastard,” Mrs. Burt said before leaving the courtroom.

It is said that the castle was tied to four of the eight anchor points.

Ms Gamble pleaded not guilty in the Devonport Magistrates Court on Friday morning to failing to comply with health and safety requirements in the workplace (pictured, the scene at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport after the tragedy

Mrs Gamble reportedly failed to ensure the anchorage was sufficient to prevent the castle from taking off.

It is also alleged that the pegs were not installed at the recommended 45 degree angle and that manufacturer recommended pegs, or a suitable alternative, were not used.

According to court documents, seven students were at the castle when a “significant” weather event occurred, causing the castle to become loose and fly through the air.

They fell from the castle, while a fan attached to the castle to keep it inflated hit a nearby student.

It is alleged that Mrs Gamble failed to ensure that the anchor system was sufficient to prevent the castle from rising, and that she failed to ensure that there was a pin at each anchor point accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt all died in the tragedy

According to court documents, the seven students were at the castle when a “significant” weather event occurred, causing the castle to become loose and fly through the air.

Gamble arrived at the school with two workers and set up the castle and zorb balls.

She is accused of failing to provide workers with information, including the manufacturer's manual for the castle.

It is also claimed that children were exposed to a risk of serious injury or death.