NSW: Jury retire to consider verdict over Rivercat death

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2008
NSW: Jury retire to consider verdict over Rivercat death

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - A jury will tomorrow resume deliberations in the trial of a RiverCat
ferry master accused of fatally crashing into a fishing boat on Sydney Harbour.

Ezra Hilkiah, 52, from Carramar, in Sydney's west, is standing trial in the NSW District
Court charged with dangerous navigation occasioning death.

He was at the helm of the Dawn Fraser RiverCat when it ploughed into a dinghy in waters
off Luna Park, shortly before 7am on January 5 last year.

Fisherman Peter Karatasas, 72, died eight days later as a result of injuries sustained
in the collision.

Hilkiah told the court he was all times travelling at a safe speed and keeping a proper
lookout, and denied the dangerous navigation charge.

The jury retired to consider its verdict shortly before 3pm (AEDT) today, following
a week-and-a-half of evidence.

It will reconvene to consider its verdict tomorrow.

AAP mss/ajc/hn/imc/de

KEYWORD: HILKIAH

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