‘Weak’ skipper avoids jail after girl’s death
THE family of a schoolgirl who died after a speedboat drove into a 15ft buoy launched a scathing attack on its skipper as he avoided jail yesterday, branding him a “coward” and a “weak man who has shown no remorse”.
Emily Lewis’ mother Nikki told skipper Michael Lawrence, nicknamed “Mr Safe”, he had “broken” their family and “kept them in hell” since the incident.
Lawrence, who failed to see the navigation buoy for 14 seconds and ploughed straight into it – was told by 15-year-old Emily’s parents at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, that “they will never forgive him”. Emily’s father
Simon Lewis said he hopes Lawrence sees the image of his dying daughter whenever he wakes and goes to sleep, and her distraught sister Amy revealed she has been suicidal since losing her “best friend”. Mr Lewis also spoke of the moment he had to make the decision to turn off Emily’s life support and “watch the light dim from her eyes”.
Mrs Lewis told Lawrence: “You are just a coward only thinking about yourself. You show no remorse.”
The court heard Lawrence, 55, took a selfie during the speedboat ride, run by Seadogz Ltd, on Aug 22 2020, and later drove into the metal buoy at 42.2mph.
He was cleared of manslaughter, which he denied, but was convicted of two safety charges. The married father of two avoided jail and was given an 18-week custodial sentence suspended for two years.