This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/6342927.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
P&O man charged over Ouzo deaths P&O man in court over Ouzo deaths
(about 2 hours later)
A 61-year-old P&O employee has been charged with the manslaughter due to gross negligence of three sailors found dead in the English Channel last year. A P&O worker has appeared in court charged with the manslaughter, due to gross negligence, of three sailors.
The three men were on board the yacht, Ouzo, which left the Isle of Wight for Devon on 20 August, but disappeared.The three men were on board the yacht, Ouzo, which left the Isle of Wight for Devon on 20 August, but disappeared.
The bodies of Jason Downer, 35, from Kent, Rupert Saunders, 36, and James Meaby, 36, both from London, were found in the sea a few days later.The bodies of Jason Downer, 35, from Kent, Rupert Saunders, 36, and James Meaby, 36, both from London, were found in the sea a few days later.
Michael Hubble, from Folkestone, Kent, worked on the Pride of Bilbao ferry. Michael Hubble, 61, of Folkestone, Kent, was in charge of a ferry en-route to Spain at the time the Ouzo was lost.
The ferry officer, of Wine House Lane, Capel-le-Ferne, will appear before Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Thursday. At that time the defendant had sole responsibility of the ship Nick Hawkins, chief prosecutor
He was working on the P&O car ferry while it was travelling to Bilbao in Spain. The agency worker, of Wine House Lane, Capel-le-Ferne, was officer of the watch on board P&O's Pride of Bilbao during a crossing on 20 August 2006.
The ferry was later examined to see if it was involved in the disappearance of the yacht. Explaining the allegations against Mr Hubble, Nick Hawkins, chief prosecutor, told the court: "These matters refer to the tragic deaths of three yachtsmen on board Ouzo, which came into close proximity with Pride of Bilbao.
The Ouzo had left Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, bound for the Dartmouth Regatta. "At that time the defendant had sole responsibility of the ship."
Ouzo had left Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, bound for the Dartmouth Regatta.
The bodies of the three-man crew were found on 22 and 23 August in the sea off the Isle of Wight.The bodies of the three-man crew were found on 22 and 23 August in the sea off the Isle of Wight.
Police examined the hull of the P&O ferry Pride of BilbaoPolice examined the hull of the P&O ferry Pride of Bilbao
The cause of death for Mr Meaby was a combination of drowning and hypothermia, while the other two died of drowning.The cause of death for Mr Meaby was a combination of drowning and hypothermia, while the other two died of drowning.
The 27ft (8.2m) Sailfish sloop has never been found, and no alarm was raised from it prior to its disappearance. The 27ft (8.2m) Sailfish sloop has never been found.
Mr Hubble was initially arrested on 2 September and released on police bail until Thursday, when he was charged. The car ferry and its black box data recorder was later examined to see if a collision had occured.
Mr Hubble was initially arrested on 2 September and released on police bail until Thursday, when he appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates' Court.
The case was adjourned to Winchester Crown Court on 16 February and Mr Hubble was released on bail without conditions.