Boat disaster: Suspects’ trial date set

Ameer (53) and crew members, Fadil Ramon Weale (27), Enock Yolani Zulu (36) and Joseph Abrahams (37) are facing 11 counts of culpable homicide.
Section 49 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act states that any person who causes the death of another person negligently or realises that death may result, should be guilty of culpable homicide.
If convicted, the person is liable to imprisonment for life or any shorter period or a fine up to or not exceeding level 14 which is US$5 000 or both.
The four, who are currently on US$500 bail apiece yesterday appeared before Mr Donald Ndirowei.
Prosecutor Mr David Magwegwe told the court that the docket was now complete and the State was ready for trial.
Mr Ndirowei remanded them to March 28 for commencement of trial.
It is alleged that on December 25 last year at Lake Chivero Ameer approached Zulu and asked him to drive the boat. Mr Magwegwe said Ameer assigned Weale to collect money from passengers before they got into the boat and supervise the passengers.
But he allegedly failed to provide life jackets to passengers in the boat.
Abrahams, he said, loaded 17 passengers in a boat, which has a carrying capacity of six passengers, without lifesavers in the presence of the other suspects.
Ameer further instructed Zulu to continue driving the boat with passengers without life jackets. Zulu, Mr Magwegwe said, did not have a license to drive the boat, but drove the boat into Lake Chivero around 6:10 pm.
As the boat was in the middle of the lake, water started getting in and passengers panicked and moved to one side. The overloaded boat capsized, causing the death of 11 passengers.