A CARPENTER fell through an “open void” at a building site after the scaffolding board he was walking on snapped beneath him, a court heard.

David Clark was working for millionaire property developer Michael Holland’s company Cherrywood Investments Limited alongside other tradesman renovating the stable block at Stanmer Park at the time of the incident at around 8am on September 30, 2014.

Emergency services battled to save the 55-year-old, of Dyke Road Avenue, Hove. He was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, from the park in Brighton in a critical condition.

He died a month later after developing blood clots from being paralysed from the fall, jurors were told.

Holland, 69, of King’s Road, Brighton, and his site foreman Grant Oakes, 46, of Elm Drive, Hove, are standing trial accused of his manslaughter.

Thomas Kark, opening the case for the prosecution, told the court the pair showed a “criminal lack of care” in failing to take steps to make sure necessary health and safety measures were in place for those working at the site.

He told jurors Mr Clark and others were left to work in “dangerous” working conditions which could have been recognised and stopped by Oakes and Holland.

Neither were on site when Mr Clark fell - Oakes had left earlier that morning and Holland was on holiday in Spain, the court heard.

Mr Kark said the carpenter had considerable experience in his trade and was recommended to Holland for the work to renovate the stables into eight homes.

Both deny manslaughter.

Oakes also denies failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety Act 1974.

The trial, expected to last four weeks, continues.