A speedboat pilot has been found not guilty of manslaughter after a crash with a buoy killed a teenage passenger. Emily Lewis, 15, suffered fatal injuries after the rigid inflatable boat (Rib) collided with the 4.5m high buoy at 36.6 knots in Southampton Water on August 22, 2020 with a number of other passengers being seriously injured.
Michael Lawrence, 55, who was driving the boat, was found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, but guilty of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to proceed at a safe speed, by the jury. The jury has not yet reached a verdict in relation to Michael Howley, 52, the owner of Seadogz, the company which operated the boat trip, who was charged 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 their daughters Emily and Amy, 18, 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) which she said both defendants believed was still in place.
