The company behind a bar’s student night where a young woman was killed said there was a heavier than usual influx of customers in the lead up the fatal incident, a court has heard.
First-year Durham University undergraduate Olivia Burt died after suffering injuries when a partition collapsed as she waited to get into Missoula, in Durham City centre.
The venue, which was operated by the Stonegate Pub Company, became unexpectedly overwhelmed with customers when a Student Union event was cancelled, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Jamie Hill KC, prosecuting counsel, read out the company’s response after Durham County Council launched an investigation into the death of the 20-year-old.
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He said the company, which runs 4,600 venues around the country, said it was ‘deeply shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic incident’ and maintained that they had not breached any legislation in the lead up to the tragedy.
The jury heard how an audit of the venue’s safety procedures a matter of weeks before the incident and shown there were no significant concerns with the city centre bar.
The company said there was ten door staff working on the evening, who were tasked with ensuring that entry to the bar ran smoothly and managed the queues outside the busy premises.
Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how the premises seemed to fill up with students quicker and queues developed after 11pm with wrist-band holders waiting to gain access at the rear unlike the usual swifter walk-in situation.
Jurors also watched CCTV footage showing the collapse of the screen in the background and shocked students and security staff rushing over.
They also saw footage of an incident around half an hour earlier when a barrier in the area collapsed.
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Mr Hill said this should have served as a warning before the fatality.
Miss Burt died from head injuries suffered when a partition barrier or screen fell on her amid a surge in the queue of students waiting to gain access to the rear of the venue, in the Walkergate complex, late on February 7, 2018.
Stonegate denies the four charges brought by the council.
The trial resumes on Monday afternoon when the company is expected to start its defence case.
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