A SERIOUS error of judgement by a TT marshal caused the death of a Kendal motorcycle journalist during this year's Senior TT race, an inquest heard.

An open verdict was recorded at the inquest of competitor Ian Gus' Scott (pictured), who lost his life after hitting the marshal in Kirk Michael on the Isle of Man.

Mr Scott, 40, was on the second lap of his first-ever Senior TT on June 19 this year, when he struck marshal April Bolster at White House Cottages, Kirk Michael, as she was crossing the course to speak to another rider. Both were killed in the collision.

Mrs Bolster, of Whitehouse Cottages, Kirk Michael, had marshalled the course for several years with husband, Paul, and daughter, Susan.

Close friends Michael and Linda McDonald were also marshals and were present at the collision. Mr McDonald was questioned about Mrs Bolster's actions and the behaviour of other marshals and riders. He said that he was stood in the garden of 5 Whitehouse Cottages at around 11.20am with Mrs Bolster when a motorcycle, ridden by Keith Stewart, stopped on the opposite side of the road due to a mechanical failure. He said he turned his head towards Kirk Michael and saw she had gone on to the course. He said she had almost crossed the road, when she was struck by a second motorbike and thrown into a hedge beyond.

He said: My wife Linda immediately displayed the flag warning approaching riders following the collision. A yellow flag was displayed at White House Farm entrance and my wife had a flag where April was lying. The flag marshal also displayed a flag, but no flag was displayed when April moved on to the course.

"I was alarmed at the lack of response some of the competitors showed to the yellow flag being displayed. This lack of care, combined with tragic circumstances, has led me to consider whether I should continue being a marshal. I am at a loss to explain why she went out into the roadway at the time. I am convinced she was 100 per cent certain in her own mind that it was safe to go into the road."

Neil Fowler, from Yarm, Cleveland, was sitting on some scaffolding overlooking the marshal point when the collision happened. He said it was difficult to explain Mrs Bolster's actions. He said: "I noticed activity at the marshal point at April Bolster's home. They appeared to be taking an interest in Keith Stewart. One of the marshals walked towards us, took a brief look left before walking quickly on a slight diagonal. Mr Scott was two yards from the left hand edge of the pavement, slightly tucked into the machine in the normal racing manner. He saw the problem moments before and started to sit up. She looked at the last minute, but too late to take any action."

Brian Rose, from Scarborough, was watching the racing from the garden of 2 White House Cottages. He said that Mrs Bolster made a serious error of judgement when she crossed the road at a 45 degree angle.

"I have seen April help other riders who retired near the filling station, but on this occasion she made a serious error of judgement in crossing at the angle she did. It was obvious that the retired rider didn't need serious attention and there was nothing that Gus Scott could have done to avoid her. In my opinion, the marshal station is not in an ideal position because of lack of visibility.' Coroner Michael Moyle said he had recorded an open verdict because he was not able to be certain that the blame lay with Mrs Bolster.

He said: "The decision I have to make is whether Mrs Bolster was guilty of unlawfully killing Mr Scott. "The fact that she was a marshal, does not necessarily mean she is immune from prosecution, by walking in front of an approaching motorcycle.

"In the circumstances, an open verdict would be an appropriate one. I cannot be certain on the evidence, whether Mr Scott was unlawfully killed or whether he died by misadventure."

A verdict of misadventure was recorded on Mrs Bolster.