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FATAL FALL FROM BALCONY.
At the conclusion of an inquiry
into the death of Robert Edward
Burke (31), of the RAAF, in the City
Courthouse yesterday, the Acting
Coroner (Mr Henry Casper, JP) re-
turned a finding of accidental death
as the result of injuries received
when Burke fell from the front bal-
cany of premises situated at 189
Newcastle-street.
Constable Wightman said that the
rails of the balcony were rotted in
some places and were not set into
the uprights but merely nailed on.
At the break in the rails caused by
the accident, the top rail was still
intact but the picket-work was
missing. In his opinion, the deceased
put his foot on the bottom rail which
gave way, resulting in Burke slip-
ping through without breaking the
top rail.
The Acting-Coroner added a rider
to his verdlct that he thought the
owners of the building had been
negligent in view of the repeated
complaints made as to its unsafe
condition and asked Mr E. Tindal,
appearing for the agents, to see that
they had the matter attended to
immediately.
Sgt R. H. Hickson examined the
witnesses.
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