Philadelphia

Subcontractor: ‘I Should've Walked Away Before Wall Collapse'

A demolition subcontractor says he warned the contractor on trial for a fatal building collapse in Philadelphia that a towering brick wall was dangerous.

Sean Benschop, who testified Thursday against contractor Griffin Campbell, pleaded guilty in the 2013 deaths of six people killed when the wall fell onto an adjacent thrift store.

Benschop says he should have "walked away" from the site when Campbell refused to take the wall down by hand. But he says he needed to feed his family.

He faces a maximum 10- to 20-year prison sentence for six counts of involuntary manslaughter. Campbell has rejected a similar plea deal.

Benschop says he was using heavy equipment nearby when the wall collapsed. Campbell is facing third-degree murder charges. His lawyer calls him a scapegoat for the building owner and others.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us