BROOKLYN, NY – A Nassau County construction company owner has been found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and related charges after a wall he built collapsed, resulting in the death of a 5-year-old girl. The tragic incident occurred on August 29, 2019, when the young victim was struck by pillars and a horizontal plate that fell from the stone fence built by the defendant.
The defendant, identified as Nadeem Anwar, 48, was convicted by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun after a bench trial. Anwar, along with his company City Wide Construction and Renovations, Inc., failed to adhere to safety protocols and violated multiple provisions of the NYC Building Code, leading to the fatal collapse. The sentencing for Anwar is scheduled for August 14.
Following the collapse, an investigation revealed that the defendant had not obtained the necessary permits to build the stone wall, and the structure lacked essential reinforcements and proper adhesive securing. The Department of Buildings engineer described the wall as highly unstable, emphasizing that it was a severe violation of building regulations and posed a significant threat to life.
The case was meticulously investigated by the New York City Department of Buildings and the Department of Investigation, with the legal proceedings led by Assistant District Attorneys.