Yacht death jury back to consider verdict (From Sutton Guardian)

Yacht death jury back to consider verdict

3:58pm Monday 10th December 2007

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Jurors in the trial of a ferry officer accused of killing three sailors after his ship allegedly sank their yacht, started their fourth day of deliberations today.

The seven women and five men retired at Winchester Crown Court last Wednesday to reach verdicts in the trial of Michael Hubble.

The 62-year-old, from Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone, Kent, was the officer of the watch onboard the 37,500 tonne P&O ferry Pride of Bilbao when it is alleged he turned ''a blind eye'' to the close quarters incident with the 25ft yacht Ouzo off the Isle of Wight in the early hours of August 21 last year.

The Ouzo sank without a trace and its three crew, James Meaby, 36, and Rupert Saunders, 36, from Tooting, and Jason Downer, 35, from Kent, all died in the water.

Hubble denies the manslaughter of the three men through gross negligence and three alternative counts of engaging in conduct as a seaman that was likely to cause death or serious injury to the men.

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