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Beaconsfield witness asks to revise his evidence

Posted August 20, 2008 19:00:00

A witness at the Launceston inquest into the death of a Beaconsfield miner says he was confused when he took the stand and has asked to revise his evidence.

Phil Malkin was an acting shift boss in the days leading up to the 2006 Anzac Day rockfall that killed Larry Knight.

Intially he told the inquest the underground manager, Pat Ball, had asked him to break a safety rule about five days before the mine collapse.

Today Mr Malkin said Mr Ball had visited him unannounced recently.

He said that after talking with Mr Ball, he checked his shift boss reports from the time, and realised he should change his evidence.

Mr Malkin now says he was definitely asked to break the safety rule, but he can't be sure of the date.

Editor's note: The earlier version of this story said: "Today Mr Malkin said Mr Ball had visited him unannounced recently, and had encouraged him to change the details of his evidence. Mr Malkin now says he was definitely asked to break the safety rule, but he can't be sure of the date." This story was changed on August 21.

Tags: business-economics-and-finance, industry, gold, mining, disasters-and-accidents, accidents, workplace-accidents, emergency-incidents, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, tas, beaconsfield-7270, hobart-7000, launceston-7250

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