LogFAQs > #894067352

As a child with 2 brothers, hide and seek was played all the time. The dryer was a common hiding place but we also knew to never turn it on while hiding in it. You see, you can't turn it on from the inside. A second person has to do that. Basically, I blame the parents for not educating their children.

Sonny Gibson clambered inside and shoved the door away from him. When it swung back on its hinges and clicked shut, it started because the timer was set.

Unable to get the door open from the inside, Sonny died from head injuries, burns and from inhaling fumes.

Yesterday an inquest was told that with no evidence that Sonny was forced into the dryer investigations were carried out to establish whether it could actually operate when the door was closed in such a way with him inside.

Anthony Coombs, a scenes of crime officer, said tests were done where an officer pushed the door open so it bounced on its hinge and swung shut, with the door hook latching into place.

He said that, with the timer set, "five out of six times, the door latch closed and the machine activated."