A speedboat skipper who crashed into a 15ft buoy and killed his schoolgirl passenger has been cleared of manslaughter after claiming he momentarily lost his vision 'like a sneeze'.
'Respected' mariner Michael Lawrence, who was nicknamed 'Mr Safe', was today found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to maintain a safe speed during the fatal boat trip 15 on Southampton Water in 2020.
Lawrence said he felt like couldn't see for a 'split second' although jurors heard the 'massive' navigation buoy would have been visible for 14 seconds.
