Women died - court proceedings

Here on the upper tidal there are regularly small boats speeding up on the plane in the dark (and indeed daytime) and plenty of pallets, logs, etc. to hit. Hopefully a few of these 'pilots' will take note and consider the potential very serious legal consequences for themselves (even if they have a complete disregard for the safety of their passengers). I wouldn't bet on it though.
 
Very sad indeed. It seems a bit of a" fit up" to me though, to get a conviction for the owner (= a result for the MET or Thames police), No life jackets worn ( personal choice), speeding (personal choice), intoxicated ( personal choice), kill cord not used (personal choice). All by the driver of that speedboat, the girl that unfortunately got killed. Killcords are not fitted as standard to even much more powerful boats like mine ( shame on the OEMs for that) Regardless, if not used, they are useless
 
No life jackets worn ( personal choice)
Although available on the boat, apparently he didn't point out that they were available to her, or other prior passengers.

speeding (personal choice)

Nope, against PLA bylaws.

intoxicated ( personal choice)

Nope, against PLA bylaws.

kill cord not used (personal choice)

Guess so, but not a choice most people would make.

All by the driver of that speedboat, the girl that unfortunately got killed.

She may have been the 'driver' as you put it, or had the helm, but he was clearly still the skipper and as such responsible.
 
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Suspect the MAIB will have investigated this event.
Report does not allocate blame but just gives a critical and in depth log of events leading up to death.
The report is passed the MCA.
The MCA then will decide wether to instigate legal proceedings.
If they do come after you the accidental loss of even one individuals life is treated very seriously indeed and if they suspect negligence . watch out.
Will be heard in the Court Court, some hefty prison custodial sentences for this type of event.
 
He's been found guilty of manslaughter, which is a maximum sentence of life. As he's on the run he will be sentenced in his absence, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets life. What a coward.
 
AFAIK there were no witnesses to the actual accident. I wonder if we only have his word that she was driving at the time? The word of someone who has since done a bunk. It is also odd for a boat to capsize after hitting a log. Boats like this are prone to capsize if they are driven badly, ie turned too sharply with lots of trim, when they hook and roll.
 
Having spent quite a bit of time up and down the Thames between Wandsworth and Tower Bridges in a smallish RIB at 15-20 knots (yes there was a reason and yes we were allowed to do so) it did feel a bit like a slalom course at times avoiding the non-boat floating hazards (i.e; not just the Clippers) and hit more than one we couldn't see even in daylight. The reports indicate they waited for the tide to come in before going out and the incoming tide means a greater concentration of floating debris.

This sad and avoidable outcome is the same regardless of whether it happened due to hitting something, abrubt steering to avoid something, or any other easy way to tip a boat like this at speed. Given the circumstances the culpability rests with the skipper regardless of who was at the helm.

Making a dreadful series of mistakes with appalling consequences is bad enough. It looks like the guilty party might be in the process of compounding his problems and extending the grief of the victim's loved ones. Being in his twenties, I hope he recognises that taking the 3 years off for good behaviour, learning from the lesson, and emerging before the age of 30 to spend some time trying to make the world a better place has to be better for everybody than a lifetime on the run.
 
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