Jet ski rider testifies in snorkler's manslaughter case

An Englishman, charged with involuntarily causing the death of a snorkler when he ran him over with a jet ski, yesterday explained how he saw a silhouette under water and only realised it was a person because there was a buoy to which several octopi were attached.

David Rigglesford explained how, as he was out in Ghadira Bay on a jet ski, he noticed a silhouette in the water that looked like the head and shoulders of a man but he was not sure. Then, about 10 meters away, he noticed an orange buoy and confirmed his suspicion that there was a diver around.

Mr Rigglesford, 27, of London, was testifying in his own defence in the compilation of evidence against him presided over by Magistrate Joseph Cassar.

He is pleading not guilty to the manslaughter of Christian Curmi in Ghadira on October 16, 2001, at about noon.

Mr Rigglesford explained that he had come here on holiday with his brother and on the day of the accident they decided to ride a jet ski.

At about 11.10 a.m. they went to a sports centre in Mellieha to hire two jet skis. The man at the centre handed over to them a liability form to fill and gave them three rules. They were to stay 300 metres away from the bay, 300 metres away from each other and they were not to go past a beacon in the middle of the bay.

Mr Rigglesford said he was not told there was a reef in the area or shown a map.

Some time later the two brothers started making their way slowly out to sea and had to pass through a corridor of boats and buoys. Once they reached a clear area they were to head in separate directions which they did.

Mr Rigglesford headed towards the right and carried out manoeuvres to familiarise himself with the jet ski. Then, as he was looking around for his brother, he noticed a silhouette in the water about three to five metres away from him. He released the accelerator and turned the handle bars to a 90 degree turn.

That was when he headed back to the sports centre and told staff there he may have hit a diver.

Mr Rigglesford explained that he had used the term "may" as he did not feel anything and the jet ski kept functioning.

Police Inspector Pio Pisani is prosecuting.

Lawyer Stefano Filletti is appearing for Mr Rigglesford while lawyers Jason Azzopardi, Mario de Marco and Toni Abela are representing the victim's family.