Building contractor charged with Industrial Manslaughter committed to trial in the Supreme Court

In March 2023, NT WorkSafe charged a Darwin based contractor with industrial manslaughter in relation to a death of a worker that occurred on 8 April 2020.

Judge O’Loughlin in the Darwin Local Court has today committed Mr Craig Williams trading as Rainbow Beach Constructions to stand trial in the NT Supreme Court in relation to one charge under section 34B (Industrial Manslaughter) of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.

In committing Mr Williams to trial in the Supreme Court, Judge O’Loughlin found that there was sufficient evidence upon which a jury could find the defendant guilty of the charge, noting that the only issue raised by the defendant at the committal was the question whether or not he was a PCBU capable of being charged with an offence under s34B. His Honour noted that the issue of duty and potential breach under the WHS legislation was conceded and not argued at the committal hearing.

The matter has been listed for the arraignment hearing in the Supreme Court on 14 March 2024.