Speedboat death driver 'had been drinking'

A St Mary’s man who was driving a speedboat which crashed into another vessel killing a man and injuring two others had been drinking all day, a court has heard.

Philip Colver was twice over the legal limit and had drunk about nine pints of lager before the crash that killed 31-year-old Benjamin Cochrane and injured his brother Frazer and friend Chay Richardson.

He had also been warned by the harbour master earlier in the day about speeding, Truro Crown Court was told.

Colver, 32, was driving the 21ft speedboat Carrie Kate when it was in collision with Mr Cochrane’s 15ft Dory near St Mawes at about 10pm on July 16 2005.

Mr Cochrane, from St Mawes, had also been drinking and was twice over the legal limit.

Mr Colver denies manslaughter and two counts of grievous bodily harm.

He has pleaded guilty to failing to keep a proper watch, driving at excess speed and failure to exhibit navigational lights.

Prosecutor Phil Mott QC said Mr Colver had not turned the speedboat’s lights on and that Mr Cochrane’s boat did not have lights.

Mr Colver and his three passengers were not injured.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday and is expected to last all week.