Hong Kong ferry tragedy: captain found guilty of manslaughter
14 Feb 2015 11:05 PM GMT
A Hong Kong ferry captain was on Saturday found guilty of manslaughter over the deaths of 39 people in a 2012 boat collision, the city’s worst maritime disaster in nearly four decades. Sea Smooth skipper Lai Sai-ming, 56, was also convicted of one count of endangering the safety of others at sea by a Hong Kong court over the accident between his high-speed ferry and a pleasure boat near Lamma Island.
The captain of the other boat, Chow Chi-wai, 58, was acquitted of all manslaughter charges but found guilty of one count of endangering the safety of others at sea. Lai looked solemn as he heard the "guilty" verdicts for all charges against him read out in court, which could see him sentenced to life in prison. The 9-member jury found him guilty by a majority of seven-to-two. “Mr Lai will be sentenced on Monday,” said Audrey Campbell-Moffat, his lawyer.
The captain of the other boat, Chow Chi-wai, 58, was acquitted of all manslaughter charges but found guilty of one count of endangering the safety of others at sea. Lai looked solemn as he heard the "guilty" verdicts for all charges against him read out in court, which could see him sentenced to life in prison. The 9-member jury found him guilty by a majority of seven-to-two. “Mr Lai will be sentenced on Monday,” said Audrey Campbell-Moffat, his lawyer.
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