New Zealand native and United States resident Stephen Fossi appeared in Magistrates’ Court Thursday to face two counts of manslaughter, charges that stem from a fatal incident when he allegedly crashed a boat into the rocks near Cow Mouth on Virgin Gorda in January.
Mr. Fossi, who worked at Oil Nut Bay before the incident, now resides in Michigan with his wife andthree children. He sat in the defendant’s box with crutches next to him as Crown Counsel O’Neal Simpson recounted the night when he allegedly caused the death of Keri Anne Way, 27, from Charlevoix, Michigan, and Jamaican man Howard Anderson, whose age and hometown weren’t released.
According to Mr. Simpson, police received a report of an accident from an individual at Windy Hill the night of Jan. 24.
First responders found the 33-foot vessel Inevitable atop an outcrop of rocks at the Cow Mouth area, with considerable damage to its bow, underside and engine, said the prosecutor.
The body of Mr. Anderson was reportedly found lying on the boat deck, and the body of Ms. Way was found in the nearby waters.
Mr. Simpson said later enquiries found that the Invevitable had been travelling from Bitter End and was headed to Leverick Bay.
The boat struck a rock in the water and ended up some 30 feet up on the outcrop, he said, adding that the accident caused non-fatal injuries to the defendant and one other person.
The prosecutor didn’t mention whether alcohol was involved in the crash, saying only that the group was “out for entertainment” that night.
Mr. Fossi’s case will bound over to the High Court, where he will plead to the charges.
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