A MANSLAUGHTER trial heard of proposed last-minute changes to the way concrete walls were to be built at the Ageas Bowl cricket ground.

Those walls collapsed later the same day killing a labourer, Phillip Carsley, 34, in February 2010.

And fellow workers have recounted the terrible scene when they found Mr Carsley under the wall.

Ian Gould, 53, director of Yorkshire-based Prefix Ltd, subcontracted to install the walls, denies manslaughter through gross negligence and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Andrew Scott Ltd, the main contractor, of Port Talbot, south Wales, denies two breaches of the health and safety at work act.

The prosecution alleges the walls were not secured in the usual way and were inherently dangerous.

Stephen Woodfield, contracts manager at Rowecord, the Newport-based steelwork contractor, told a jury that he was asked at 9.40am on the day of the death by site manager David Morgan to approve a new 'method statement' with hand-written amendments, for the installation.

Mr Woodfield told Winchester Crown Court he was an expert in steel erection and not pre-cast concrete.

“I had a look at it and nothing jumped out at me. I was being slightly pressurised to sign it off. But I didn't sign it off because I am not trained or competent in that field. I didn't know enough about it to sign it off.”

Mr Woodfield said there were other people at Rowecord with the expertise.

Shortly afterwards the work started and two three-tonne walls collapsed crushing Mr Carsley, his first day at work after a year without work.

It was Mr Carsley's first day working for Prefix Ltd after more than a year without work.

Darren Gilmore was a foreman overseeing the placing of the prefabricated concrete sections at the cricket ground at West End, near Southampton, in February 2010.

He told the jury: “There was no noise or nothing, it just went. It all happened so fast. You don't expect it. The weight of the first wall took that one over too.”

Workers found Mr Carsley with his legs under a wall. A crane was then used to free him, but he was not breathing when paramedics arrived and CPR failed to revive him.

The trial heard that the walls would have been more secure if a header wall had been installed. But holes for bolts were out of line.

Andrew Langdon QC, defending Gould, asked Mr Gilmore if he thought the site was ready for their work. “No,” said Mr Gilmore.

Brackets to attach the walls to the ground had not arrived. The workers, said Mr Gilmore, were expecting the concrete sections to have holes in them.

Lindsay Carsley, in a statement spoke of her brother's excitement at starting the new job. “It was his first day back at work since Christmas 2008. He was very excited about the new job and couldn't wait to get started.”

Proceeding.