A teenager has been charged with manslaughter over the drowning death of a man on Hobart's waterfront, while two others and a woman will face court accused over the attempted snatch-and-run robbery that allegedly led to the tragedy.
A woman who was with the 27-year-old victim raised the alarm after the pair ended up in the water at Princes Wharf about 10pm on Monday.
She managed to climb to safety up a ladder but the man, who could not swim, was unable to be saved despite the efforts of police, paramedics and two passers-by who jumped in to help.
Police said the pair were pushed from behind by a person trying to steal the woman's handbag.
Two females, aged 17 and 25, were taken into custody in the northern Hobart suburb of Glenorchy on Tuesday afternoon.
After further searches, two males aged 17 and 19, were arrested at nearby Claremont.
The 17-year-old boy, from Goodwood, had been charged with manslaughter, police said on Wednesday afternoon.
He and the other three had also been jointly charged with aggravated robbery.
All four have been detained in custody and are expected to appear before Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Detective Inspector David Gill described the incident on Wednesday as a terrible tragedy.
"A tragedy that will haunt the young (woman) for the rest of her life, along with the family and friends of the (man) and the two members of the public and officers (who responded)," he said.
There was no evidence alcohol played a role in the man's inability to swim, he said.
Police divers searched for the handbag but as of Wednesday afternoon, it was not known whether it had been found.
Princes Wharf is a short walk from the Hobart CBD and features restaurants and bars.
