TINNIE CRASH AGONY

A MAN whose girlfriend died in a horror boat crash has thought about it daily for three years, a court heard when sentencing him for driving an “unsafe” tinnie with drugs in his system.

The mother of Jess Murray, 33, who died instantly in a boat collision three years ago near the luxury Couran Cove resort, also told a court through a victim impact statement: “It’s been a struggle to keep our lives moving forward, our heartbreak will last a lifetime.”

Ms Murray and partner Bryce Stewart Temple were in a 4m tinnie when there was a collision with an 11m cruiser on May 27, 2017.

Temple, 44, was jailed on Monday for three months, wholly suspended for a year, and fined $500 for having an “unsafe” vessel without a light on its bow, and driving with drugs in his system.

The Southport Magistrates Court heard Temple’s vessel had right of way but at dusk it was “quite murky” making it difficult to see.

“The ship that he was driving was unsafe because it did not have a light on it that would sit a metre above the bow, such that you could see it from a distance,” Prosecutor Matthew Hynes said.

Temple was initially charged with a more serious offence but it was ultimately not pursued.

He pleaded guilty to drive while drug present in blood or saliva, and general safety obligation of ship owners and masters about condition of ships.

Magistrate Michelle Dooley said the safety obligation was very high for boaties of the Gold Coast waterways.

“It appears that there’s an argument that a light correctly positioned may have made a difference in this particular matter,” she said.

The court heard just five days prior to the crash Temple had been charged with drug possession.

IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S PLAYED ON HIS MIND ON A DAILY BASIS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS

DEFENCE SOLICITOR JOE WICKING

Mr Hynes said it appeared the boat crash was a “sobering event” as he had not been back before the courts.

Defence solicitor Joe Wicking, of Howden Saggers Lawyers, said the matter had significantly impacted Temple.

“That’s not to take away from the family, but of course my client was the partner of the young lady who died as a result of this incident, and it’s something that’s played on his mind on a daily basis for the last three years.”

Mr Wicking said Temple had a non-compliant light on the back of the boat.

Temple’s marine licence was suspended for a month.

Jess Murray was tragically killed in a boating accident near Couran Cove in 2017 for which partner Bryce Temple (inset) was fined $500 and sentenced to a suspended jail term for his role.