Sailor accused of unlawful killing after collision

The trial was due to start today of a sailor accused of unlawful killing after his chemical tanker and another ship collided resulting in the death of a captain.

Brian Norcutt D’Esterre-Roberts, 39, from Ireland, is charged with neglect of duty and the unlawful killing of Captain Wolfram Gross, whose 1,000-tonne cargo ship the Ash sank following the crash off Hastings in October last year.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court, Ebgland, is expected to last eight days.

Second officer D’Esterre-Roberts was one of 12 crew on the Dutch-registered tanker, Dutch Aquamarine, carrying a cargo of acetic acid from Antwerp, Belgium to Swansea, south Wales when the vessel collided with the Ash in the early hours of October 9.

It is alleged that the collision in the Dover Strait happened shortly after the defendant took over the watch of the 4,700 tonne ship.

The Ash, carrying steel from Denmark to Spain, was hit in the stern and sank within minutes.

Five of its six crew members were picked up by the Dutch Aquamarine. Mr Gross was winched aboard a search and rescue helicopter but he had drowned.