Lift death banker's husband 'robbed of justice'

nlnews@archant.co.uk
11 March 2010

Katarzyna Woja and Nebosja Dorontic

THE husband of a City banker crushed to death by a lift says he feels "robbed" after the world's biggest lift installer finally admitted responsibility for her death.

Nebojsa Dorontic, 39, has spent seven years battling for justice since high flyer Katarzyna Woja, 32, of Hornsey Lane, Highgate, was trapped and crushed in a lift shaft at a Holmes Place gym in Broadgate in the City in March 2003.

Holmes Place Health Clubs, which was taken over by Virgin Active in 2006, earlier admitted responsibility for Miss Woja's death, but it was not until the eve of a trial on Monday that German firm Thyssen Krupp - the world's biggest lift installer - finally pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches.

Nicholas Purnell, QC, on behalf of the company, entered a single guilty plea to failing to discharge a duty under the Health And Safety Act between January 1, 2001, and March 13, 2003.

Among the breaches the firm admitted was a "failure adequately to investigate or identify the cause or causes of sudden failures of the lift".

Speaking outside Southwark Crown Court, Mr Dorontic said the family were angry that no evidence had been heard in court about why the accident took place. He said: "We are not happy with the time it took to come to this point. Unfortunately, evidence was not heard, and my Katya died, my wife died, so this is a very bitter pill to swallow. That's why we feel that we have been robbed of justice."

Polish-born Ms Woja was on her way to the gym for a lunchtime class when she was killed. The fund manager for Invesco was the last of seven people exiting the lift, but as she approached the doors the lift plunged downwards.

Ms Woja became trapped between the outer wall of the lift and the shaft, and was dragged downwards, suffering horrific injuries. She died at the scene.

Ms Woja and Mr Dorontic had been married for 10 years and planned to start a family. Mr Dorontic is also taking civil action.

He said: "Today's hearing leaves nothing but unanswered questions and a very sour taste in the mouth. By not having a full trial the remaining members of Katarzyna's family and I may never know why she died and that is the least we deserve.

"After seven long years, the companies involved have walked away determined that they will never have to explain why simple maintenance was not carried out that would have saved my wife's life.

"My wife was a charming and intelligent woman with whom I was very much in love. She went to work that morning as usual but by lunchtime my life had been ripped apart."

"After seven years I have had one letter from Holmes Place saying they were sorry, and Thyssen have never apologised."

The family's barrister, Keith Barrett, said both firms had twice previously attempted to have the criminal charges thrown out. He said: "We still don't know why it happened, and I don't think we will ever know.