Two men to stand trial charged in connection with death of girl in boat crash

  • Meridian
Emily Lewis died after the RIB collided with a buoy in the Solent in 2020

Two men have been sent for trial in connection with the death of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in a high speed accident in a sightseeing boat.

Emily Lewis was among 12 people taken to hospital after the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) collided with a buoy in the Solent on August 22 2020.

Michael Lawrence, 54, who was driving the boat, and Michael Howley, 51, the owner of Seadogz, the company which operated the boat trip, both appeared for a preliminary hearing at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (2 February).

Lawrence, of Hartsgrove Avenue, Blackfield, Southampton, entered a not guilty plea to the gross negligence manslaughter of Emily.

Howley, of Stopples Lane, Hordle, Hampshire, indicated a not guilty plea to the charge of owning the RIB and failing to take all reasonable steps to secure that the boat was operated in a safe manner.

He also indicated a not guilty plea to the alternative charge of failing to operate the company, Seadogz, in a safe manner.

Sarah Barnard, defending the pair, said of Lawrence: "The issues are that this was an unfortunate accident, it was not caused by gross negligence."

District Judge Anthony Callaway sent the case for trial at Winchester Crown Court and released the two defendants on unconditional bail until the first hearing on March 2.

An inquest opened into Emily's death heard she was taken to Southampton General Hospital where she died despite attempts to save her life.

The inquest hearing was told that Emily, who died of an upper abdominal injury, was accompanied to hospital by her father, Simon Lewis, from the Park Gate area of Southampton.

It is understood that Emily's father, mother Nikki and 19-year-old sister Amy were also on the boat, and that both her mother and sister suffered broken arms.

The family said in a statement released previously through Hampshire police: "We are all in shock that our beautiful daughter and sister is no longer with us, and words just don't seem available to express our deep sense of loss."

Stuart Parkes, head teacher at Brookfield School where Emily was a student, described her as "kind, compassionate" and as a "bright, conscientious student".