Boat 'pilot' saw craft spinning

Mr Douglas Johnson was hit by the boat's propeller

A woman who was piloting a speedboat before it span out of control and killed a man told a court she could remember little of what happened.

Kelly Stone told Southampton Crown Court she only recalled taking the wheel of the 35mph rigid inflatable boat (RIB) at the Southampton Boat Show on 22 September 2000.

Miss Stone gave evidence in the trial of Andrew Bowden, 33, who is accused of failing to adhere to safety procedures which could have avoided the death of Tristan Douglas Johnson, 20.

I remember being in the water and that's all I wish to remember

Kelly Stone

On Thursday Miss Stone said she and Mr Douglas Johnson went to the boat show and saw Andrew Bowden who had promised to take the pair on a RIB.

She told the court she had spoken to Mr Bowden, of Exeter, over the phone but this was the first time she had met him.

During her evidence, Miss Stone said she had been in a RIB on two previous occasions and had driven one for 20 minutes.

Earlier the court heard that soon after Miss Stone had taken the wheel she, together with Mr Bowden and Mr Douglas Johnson, were thrown from the RIB into the water.

The court heard that Bowden had failed to attach the "kill cord", which was supposed to cut the power if the driver fell off.

The pilot-less boat then raced around in circles at full throttle in the demonstration area of the boat show.

Mr Bowden and Miss Stone were able to swim free and be picked up but Mr Douglas Johnson was hit by the boat's 15-inch propeller.

'Like Jaws'

He was eventually rescued and taken to a nearby pontoon but he died moments later.

The scene was described by a witness as like something out of the movie Jaws.

In response to questions from barrister Derwin Hope, prosecuting, Miss Stone said: "I can remember the boat spinning around and around and around.

"I remember being in the water and that's all I wish to remember."

She told the court she could not remember whether Bowden had given her any instructions or whether he had attached the kill cord or mentioned the kill cord in the moment before she took the wheel.

The prosecution allege Mr Bowden could have avoided the death of Mr Douglas Johnson of Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset, if safety procedures had been followed.

Mr Bowden of Victoria Road, Topsham, denies failing to perform the functions of a ship's master in a manner likely to cause death or injury.

The trial continues.