Manufacturer of Tasmanian jumping castle where six children died unclear on how many pegs supplied, court hears

Chinese manufacturers of a jumping castle that became airborne, killing six children, have been unable to detail how many pegs are usually supplied with the inflatable equipment.

Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt died during end-of-year celebrations in 2021 at Hillcrest primary school in Devonport.

Rosemary Gamble, operator of Tasmanian business Taz-Zorb, which set up the equipment, is accused of failing to comply with a health and safety duty.

Gamble, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of only using pegs in four of eight anchorage points and failing to properly secure the castle.

Forensic images of the blood-stained castle were shown on Wednesday in Devonport magistrates court while families of the children killed were present.

's breaking news email

Some of the stains on the castle were on the roof and the walls.

The court was previously told a "mini-tornado" lifted the castle several metres into the air, with one witness saying it travelled 75m across the oval where it had been set up.

Gamble's lawyer, Chris Dockray, previously told the court she only received four pegs when she bought the castle from manufacturer East Inflatables in 2015.

East Inflatables sales manager, Andy Chen, who gave evidence from China via an interpreter, was asked how many pegs are supplied with the model of the castle involved in the incident.

"I can't remember the details but in general we provide four to eight pegs," he said.

"Some customers would like to purchase some more."

Chen said the company in 2015 "didn't really" have a form to tick to ensure what had been shipped to customers and the process remained "roughly the same".

An email from East Inflatables shown to the court told Gamble the castle had been manufactured to Australian standards.

It has been alleged the pegs used to tie down the castle were 10mm in diameter and not the 16mm required under national standards.

It is alleged Gamble had other means available, such as star pickets, to tether the castle but didn't use them.

The court was shown photographs of star pickets in the back tray of a ute at the school.

Constable Dean Wotherspoon, who took photos of the scene, said some pegs – used to secure other items and not the castle – were rusty.

Dockray previously said East Inflatables had not provided a manual but Gamble downloaded a one-and-a-half page document from the company's website.

Chen told the court the company "generally" supplied manuals and sometimes an electronic version.

Dockray has said he will call evidence that no tethering methods proposed by the crown would have changed the outcome due to the strength and unexpected nature of the wind.

Five of the six children died from injuries after falling from a height, while one was struck with an electrical blower, the court has been told.

The hearing is expected to conclude on 15 November.