The young lawyer from New Zealand was walking past the William Hill bookmakers in Camden, north west London, when he was crushed by the 200kg sign, causing a broken neck and fractured skull.

Marx had been working in London for four months before he was killed by the sign on January 28th, 2013. The incident occurred at around 5pm and Marx died about an hour later.

William Hill Organisation faces charges of breaching health and safety duties in regard to both employees and non-employees.

James Ageris QC, for the prosecution, told jurors: ““The sign was insecurely fixed on to a wooden subframe, and parts of the subframe were insecurely fixed to each other.

“The sign had been dangerously insecure for a long period of time and could equally have fallen on any other passer-by, customer or indeed employee.

“Mr Marx was spectacularly unlucky to be in just the wrong place at just the wrong time.”

Work had started on the illuminated fascia sign in 2006, with the bookmaker enlisting various sub-contractors to carry out the fittings, Blackfriars Crown Court heard on Friday.

Ageros added: “William Hill had the overriding and overall duty that what was done on its behalf was safe and did not present a risk to the public.”

The company is charged with one count of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees and one count of failing to ensure the safety of employees, both contrary to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The trial is expected to last five weeks. William Hill Organisation has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

If you have a news story, email me at summer@linkpublishing.co.uk or reach out on Twitter to have your say.