A man on trial for causing the death of a window fitter working for him on a building site told police the deceased "only had himself to blame" for what happened, a court has heard.
Faruk Patel (39) from Leicester is accused of unlawfully killing father-of-two Tasadaq Ur-Rehman through gross negligence.
Mr Ur-Rehman suffered severe brain injuries when he fell through a hole in the roof of a house under construction in St Saviours Hill, Spinney Hills, on January 24, last year, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard Monday. He died in hospital four days later.
It is claimed Patel, who was responsible for safety on the "chaotic" building site, failed to take "even the simplest precautions" to safeguard Mr Ur-Rehman.
Mr Ur-Rehman, who was an experienced window fitter employed by AA Double Glazing, had agreed to spend a Saturday fitting windows for Patel.
While working alone on the site, he fell three metres to the ground through a hole cut for a skylight. The jury was told of a catalogue of health and safety breaches on the site.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer said police officers who visited found a "chaotic mess". The police's findings were verified during a subsequent visit by Health and Safety Executive inspectors, who issued a prohibition notice banning any further work at height on the site.
The document was signed by Patel, but on return visits inspectors found the warnings had been ignored – leading to Patel's arrest on February 10.
The court heard Patel had owned the land on which he began building the three-storey house, but ran out of money. He sold the property to an acquaintance, businessman Ismail Aswat, for £50,000. Mr Aswat, giving evidence, said it was a verbal agreement under which Patel would continue building the house for him. He said Patel had reassured him he had the relevant building qualifications, but admitted to failing to check if that was true.
Ms Heer said that the defendant, who has been living in the UK for 12 years, has no such qualifications and had never built a house before.
The jury was told Patel has pleaded guilty to health and safety offences and admitted negligence, but denies manslaughter.
The trial continues.
