Woman crushed to death by falling bricks after doing school run, court told

A woman was crushed to death by a pile of bricks as she walked past a construction site after doing the school run, a court has heard.

Michaela Boor, 29, suffered a fractured skull and "catastrophic brain injuries" on Burdett Road in Bow, east London, on 27 March 2018.

She was treated at the scene and had surgery, but the Old Bailey was told her injuries were "unsurvivable" and that she died two days later.

Her friend, Chelsea Mustafa, was also hit by some bricks but managed to run into the road and avoided most of the load.

Higgins Homes and four construction workers are on trial at the Old Bailey over Ms Boor's death.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC told the court: "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 - it was Michaela's birthday the following day and she wanted to buy some things."

Ms Healy said the route took them past a construction site being developed by Higgins Homes.

"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," she told the court.

She added: "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."

More from Sky News:
Twelve people arrested after anti-migrant protest
Death of girl, 11, being treated as 'unexplained'

Higgins Homes, which was building a block of flats at the site, denies corporate manslaughter and a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Also on trial are:

Thomas Anstis, 69, of Banstead, Surrey, who was senior site manager and temporary work co-ordinator for Higgins Homes.

Stephen Coulson, 69, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, the director of Coulson Lifting Services.

Dawood Maan, 61, of Ashford, Kent, a self-employed crane supervisor working for Coulson Lifting Services

Alexander McInnes, 34, of Islington, north London, a self-employed crane operator working for London Tower Cranes.

The four are charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence, which they deny.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Woman crushed to death by falling bricks after doing school run, court told