Couple sue over son's death

The parents of an infant son who died in April after falling a height of one storey into a shaft near their garage have asked a court to declare that the construction company that owned the block was responsible for the incident.

Joseph and Vanessa Agius claimed that Oman Construction Ltd, which owned the block of apartments and garages in Żebbuġ, was responsible for defects in the building's common areas that resulted in the death of their son, Gabriel.

The couple filed an application in the First Hall of the Civil Court. They explained that their son, who was two years and 10 months old, died when he fell down the pit situated near their garage on April 16 at about 1 p.m. The pit was in a common area of the apartment and garage block owned by the construction company.

They argued that it was because of this defect that their son fell. They called on the court to find the company responsible for the defect and, therefore, for their son's death.

They also asked the court to liquidate the damages they suffered and order the company to pay them those damages.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Charmaine Cherrett represented the parents.