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Bicarie death ruled 'accidental'

Coroner Edward King returned a verdict of accidental death on Andrea Trott Bicarie who died from a broken neck when a retaining wall collapsed on her car at Bermuda College in January.

Now her widower Roan Bicarie, who was accompanied by lawyer Delroy Duncan at the hearing, is considering whether to take further legal action but he would not say against who.

Mr. King told the inquest yesterday his job was not to apportion blame but to find out the facts of how, when and where Mrs. Bicarie died.

?This is not going to be a fishing expedition,? he said. ?This is not going to be a mini trial.?

Outside the court investigating officer Acting Chief Inspector Tracy Adams told a criminal prosecution was ?unlikely.?

The hearing was packed with lawyers and legal secretaries taking notes. They heard Dr. Dinah Parums read the post mortem report which said the 35-year-old mother of one was covered with cuts and bruises and had died from a broken neck at the scene on January 22.

Student Alea Dill recalled staying the night at Mrs. Bicarie?s home, along with other students from the Education Centre, because it was the night before her early morning mock GED exam at the College.

She drove in Mrs. Bicarie?s car which arrived at 8.15 a.m. for the 8.30 a.m. exam but Ms Dill was barred from entering along with others because she did not have ID.

She said Mrs. Bicarie drove to Hamilton Police station to get ID for her students. The next exam sitting was at 10 a.m. and Ms Dill left the car moments before to take her place while Mrs. Bicarie remained to make a phone call.

The student was in the exam hall when she noticed students looking toward the car park when she heard a loud bang before rushing out to find Mrs. Bicarie?s car covered with sand and rubble which prompted her to burst into tears.

Police Sgt. Stephanie Thompson had left her car in the same parking lot at 10 a.m. and heard a noise like a branch falling but looked back to see the wall intact.

In her statement, read to the court by Coroner?s Officer Inspector Phil Taylor, she said: ?I heard a loud ripping sound followed by an earth shattering bang and the vehicle horn and alarms. I turned round and saw boulders and sand covering all of the cars.?

Initially she thought she had been the last person to leave that car park but was then told a woman was inside.

Sgt. Thompson rang 911 only to find it engaged so she rang her Police officer boyfriend to get him to broadcast it on the radio.

Ambulance driver Raymond Santucci told the court he had rushed to the scene to be told one of the buried cars had a trapped woman.

He said: ?Someone was definitely alive in the car.?

Digging equipment was sent for but Mrs. Bicarie was dead when she was unearthed. Mr. Santucci said he recognised the woman as Mrs. Bicarie and showed the body to her husband in the ambulance.

He said Mr. Bicarie had said: ?That?s my wife, she?s such a nice lady. I am going to miss her.?

Coroner Mr. King gave his verdict of accidental death after noting the medical report.

Outside the court Mr. Bicarie told : ?Basically what we heard today was a step towards getting to where we want to get. It was basic stuff.?

Asked about further legal action he said: ?It?s a possibility.? But he would not say whether it would be against Elbow Beach properties.

After the lethal landslide a spokeswoman admitted the hotel was warned of faults in their service road which eventually collapsed after heavy rain, taking the retaining wall with it, which crushed Mrs. Bicarie.

A meeting had been held about the road on the day of the tragedy and the day before.

Mrs. Bicarie?s family have said the death could have been prevented had officials at the Elbow Beach Hotel and the Bermuda College acted sooner.