THE death of a man in a high speed boat accident off the Isle of Wight has been blamed on a millionaire telecoms executive 'showing off.’
While at the wheel of a jet-powered RIB, Aaron Brown, 34, smashed into the diving platform of his £1 million luxury yacht, in Osborne Bay.
Mr Brown’s friend Ryan McKinlay, 36, was sitting on the front of the boat when it hit the platform and he was thrown in to the water, landing face down.
Jurors at Winchester Crown Court watched footage of the tragedy unfolding, filmed by Mr McKinlay’s wife Fran, who was on board Mr Brown’s 62ft Fairline Targa True Blue. Mr McKinlay died of his injuries.
Mr Brown, chief operating officer at telecommunications company OneCom, has denied manslaughter by gross negligence following the incident in June 2015.
Paul Carey, hired by Mr Brown to skipper the luxury cruiser, has been charged with contravening merchant shipping regulations after allegations he drove the powerful RIB at high speeds earlier, contributing 'to a climate in which Brown was encouraged to do the same.’
The court was told Mr Brown was RYA Level 2 qualified to drive power boats after a two-day training course and knew the powerful Williams Turbo 325 RIB should not be driven close to other boats.
Prosecuting, Nick Tucker, said: "The prosecution say Mr Brown ignored the safety advice in order to show off in front of his friends.
"He drove towards it at something like 30mph with his friend sitting at the front of the boat and as a result, Ryan McKinlay was killed.
"It was an accident but we say it was an accident that was foreseeable and wholly avoidable."
The court heard the group — which included former Islander, the footballer Lee Bradbury — had set off from Swanwick Marina, Southampton, for a day trip to Cowes.
They arrived at Osborne Bay at around 4pm and had a champagne toast, before taking the RIB out of its 'garage’ inside the larger yacht.
Jurors watched footage of Mr Carey driving close to the boat and trying to splash spectators filming it on their mobile phones from the platform of the yacht.
He told police he wanted to give people a 'thrill-seeking ride.’
Mr Tucker said: "It was coming very close to the boat, and we say dangerously close.
"A high speed collision became a real risk."
Mr Brown, of Curbridge near Southampton, took over the controls and Mr Tucker, describing how the boat was struggling to maintain its course as it approached the larger boat, said: "At this point it’s going very quickly towards the True Blue.
"Mr Brown apparently realises that a collision is coming. He can be seen desperately trying to steer away from the True Blue.
"At the last minute the boat turns violently to the left and ploughs into the back of the True Blue swimming platform.
"Mr McKinlay had no chance. The swimming platform hit him full in the chest and he was propelled into the water. Meanwhile Aaron Brown was catapulted into the air and escaped with minor injuries."
Isle of Wight lifeboats raced to the scene, and Mr McKinlay was airlifted to St Mary’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues.