A COMPANY boss accused of the manslaughter of a worker at the home of Hampshire cricket broke down in the witness stand as he recounted the moment of the fatal wall collapse.

Ian Gould was in charge of workers putting up walls at the Ageas Bowl, in West End.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court has heard the walls were allegedly erected with no safety measures, which resulted in one falling on to another, crushing Philip Carsley, 34, who died of multiple injuries.

Gould, 53, of Eastrington, East Yorkshire, was director of Prefix, contracted to erect pre-cast concrete walls at the stadium.

Yesterday he went into the witness box to describe the events leading to the accident.

He said: “My back was to the wall. I didn’t hear a noise, I heard a shout. I didn’t really hear what was said, I heard a shout. I turned and within a split second the walls had fallen over to my right. Obviously it took a bit of taking in for a second. At that time I didn’t appreciate Phil was on the other side.”

Gould wept and had to compose himself before he could continue.

“We ran round to the other side. It was towards the back corner of the wall that had fallen on him. He was semi-trapped by the wall. I seem to remember he was face up. Someone said ‘man trapped’.

“We tried to lift the wall units but at six and half tonnes there was no way we could do that. We jammed in timbers to stop the walls falling further,” he added.

The units were lifted by crane and Mr Carsley dragged clear, but he could not be saved.

The trial had heard Gould raise concerns that the the site was not ready for their work.

Important L-shaped brackets were not available.

The trial earlier heard the brackets would have safely stabilised the walls.

Earlier Judge Keith Cutler, ordered the jury to acquit coaccused Andrew Scott Ltd of two allegations of breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Gould is due to resume giving evidence on Monday.

Proceeding.