Accidental death verdict in Polish builder case

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of a Polish builder who fell 2m to his death despite the circumstances remaining a mystery.

Health and safety inspectors were unable to carry out a proper investigation at the site because it had "dramatically changed" by the time they arrived, and those on site also spoke very little English.

Adam Kirpsza, 33, of Stockwell, had been subcontracted by a friend to work on a £20,000 renovation job on a Victorian-style house in Brixton, for interior decorator Franz Burrows.

Before his fall on 10 December 2001, Kirpsza was hammering broken and cracked bricks and then replacing them around a pipe.

Health and safety inspector Tony Hetherington said it was not clear how Kirpsza fell. "When I investigated there were minor problems with the scaffolding but no serious breaches."

It is believed he may have slipped while coming down from his work area.

PC John Bouchard said: "I was told bricks had fallen on him and then he fell, but I didn't see any bricks at the scene and there were no witnesses."

The pathologist said the cause of death was head injuries.