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Demolition contractor guilty of manslaughter in 2013 Philadelphia building collapse
This is in the Economy forum, as several OSHA standards were violated during the demolition.
Demolition contractor guilty of manslaughter in 2013 Philadelphia building collapse
Joseph A. Slobodzian, Inquirer Staff Writer
Last updated: Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 1:08 AM
Posted: Monday, October 19, 2015, 12:54 PM
jslobodzian@phillynews.com
215-854-2985
@joeslobo
www.philly.com/crimeandpunishment
Griffin Campbell, the North Philadelphia contractor who jumped at the chance to trade rehabbing houses for demolishing five Center City buildings, was found guilty Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the 2013 collapse that buried a Salvation Army thrift store, killing six and injuring 13. ... The Common Pleas Court jury's verdict - it acquitted Campbell of six counts of third-degree murder and a conspiracy charge - spared the 51-year-old Hunting Park man a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, which he would have faced if he had been convicted of more than one murder count.
Still, Campbell's sentence - he has been held in prison without bail since his arrest on Nov. 25, 2013 - could be significant. Assistant District Attorneys Jennifer Selber and Edward Cameron said each manslaughter count carried a possible prison term of {2-1/2} to 5 years. ... And Campbell was also found guilty of 13 counts of reckless endangerment (each a possible 1- to 2-year prison term), aggravated assault (10 to 20 years), and causing a catastrophe ({7-1/2} to 15 years). ... Common Pleas Court Judge Glenn B. Bronson tentatively set sentencing for Jan. 8 for Campbell, and for Sean Benschop, the operator of the 36,000-pound excavator that was key in the June 5, 2013, toppling of an unsupported wall of a four-story building under demolition at 22d and Market Streets.
....
Prosecutors alleged that Campbell shortchanged public safety to maximize the salvage value of building materials. The excavator was picking at a back wall of the Hoagie City building when an unsupported three- to four-story brick wall toppled on the Salvation Army building. ... Prosecution witnesses testified that Campbell was not supposed to use an excavator because the occupied Salvation Army building shared the party wall that fell.
Despite testimony that Campbell ignored the warning of his employees about the danger of the unbraced wall, the jury did not return guilty verdicts on the third-degree murder charge.
Last updated: Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 1:08 AM
Posted: Monday, October 19, 2015, 12:54 PM
jslobodzian@phillynews.com
215-854-2985
@joeslobo
www.philly.com/crimeandpunishment
Griffin Campbell, the North Philadelphia contractor who jumped at the chance to trade rehabbing houses for demolishing five Center City buildings, was found guilty Monday of involuntary manslaughter in the 2013 collapse that buried a Salvation Army thrift store, killing six and injuring 13. ... The Common Pleas Court jury's verdict - it acquitted Campbell of six counts of third-degree murder and a conspiracy charge - spared the 51-year-old Hunting Park man a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, which he would have faced if he had been convicted of more than one murder count.
Still, Campbell's sentence - he has been held in prison without bail since his arrest on Nov. 25, 2013 - could be significant. Assistant District Attorneys Jennifer Selber and Edward Cameron said each manslaughter count carried a possible prison term of {2-1/2} to 5 years. ... And Campbell was also found guilty of 13 counts of reckless endangerment (each a possible 1- to 2-year prison term), aggravated assault (10 to 20 years), and causing a catastrophe ({7-1/2} to 15 years). ... Common Pleas Court Judge Glenn B. Bronson tentatively set sentencing for Jan. 8 for Campbell, and for Sean Benschop, the operator of the 36,000-pound excavator that was key in the June 5, 2013, toppling of an unsupported wall of a four-story building under demolition at 22d and Market Streets.
....
Prosecutors alleged that Campbell shortchanged public safety to maximize the salvage value of building materials. The excavator was picking at a back wall of the Hoagie City building when an unsupported three- to four-story brick wall toppled on the Salvation Army building. ... Prosecution witnesses testified that Campbell was not supposed to use an excavator because the occupied Salvation Army building shared the party wall that fell.
Despite testimony that Campbell ignored the warning of his employees about the danger of the unbraced wall, the jury did not return guilty verdicts on the third-degree murder charge.