Speedboat crash death captain acquitted of manslaughter

A speedboat captain has been acquitted of manslaughter following a crash on Southampton Water which killed a 15-year-old girl.

But 55-year-old Michael Lawrence has been found guilty of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to maintain a safe speed.

Emily Lewis suffered fatal injuries when the rigid inflatable boat collided with a metal buoy at 36.6 knots in Southampton Water on 22 August 2020.

A number of other passengers were seriously injured.

Video showing the moment the speedboat crashed into the 15-foot buoy was shown in court.

Warning: this video contains distressing images

The jury took nearly 18 hours to convict Michael Howley, 52, the owner of Seadogz, the company which operated the boat trip, with not operating the boat safely.

Christine Agnew KC, prosecuting, told the trial at Winchester Crown Court that Emily's parents, Simon and Nikki, had decided to take her and her 18-year-old sister Amy for the "high thrills" speedboat ride.

The rib was recorded to travel at speeds of 47.8 knots, which is in excess of an expired speed limit of 40 knots (46mph/74kph) which Ms Agnew said both defendants believed was still in place.

As part of the ride, which took place in "perfect conditions", the Stormforce 950 Rib crossed the wake of the Red Falcon ferry five times before it then headed straight towards the North West Netley buoy which measures 4.69m (15ft 5in) above the water line.

Ms Agnew said the rib travelled straight towards the buoy for 14 seconds before hitting it, throwing two passengers into the water and injuring several others.

Emily from Park Gate in Fareham suffered severe internal injuries after being crushed against the metal handle in front of her.

She was taken ashore by another rib and then by ambulance to hospital, where she died after her family took the decision to turn off her life support system when doctors said she had suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain and that her injuries were unsurvivable.

Ms Agnew said Lawrence initially said that a face mask had blown into his face, blocking his vision, but had later changed his account.

The former lifeboatman told the trial that he had lost his vision momentarily prior to hitting the buoy.

Seadogz owner 52-year-old Michael Howley, from Hordle in the New Forest, was found guilty by majority verdict of failing to discharge his duty that a boat was operated in a safe manner.

Howley, who is also a former lifeboatman, said he used his experience from rescues to inform the risk assessments he carried out for his business to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.

After the verdict against Howley was delivered, the court was told by prosecution solicitor David Richards KC that Seadogz had received three complaints from injured passengers in 10 years - with one person injured during a ride in 2012 receiving a £300,000 payout.

Another man suffered a back injury in September 2019 which resulted in surgery for broken vertebrae, while a third person was injured in July 2017.

None of those injuries resulted in criminal charges. Seadogz is no longer in operation.

Howley's solicitor James Newton-Price KC said he did not accept any of those claims would count as findings against his client during sentencing.

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