Ship's mate sentenced over deathA "highly qualified" ship's mate has been jailed for causing the death of a passenger on a River Thames pleasure boat.
Ryan Sandall, 25, was handed a 15-month jail sentence after admitting to manslaughter through gross negligence.
The Old Bailey heard Sandall had not secured the Hurlingham properly at Westminster Pier in August 2008.
Party-goer, 32-year-old Jay Murillo, a law graduate who left his native Mexico to learn English while working for the Leon restaurant chain, fell through a gap as he was getting off the boat following a staff event. His body was found five days later.
Judge Paul Worsley told Sandall, of Victoria Dock, east London, he had used one rope instead of a minimum of two to secure the boat.
The judge added: "You were highly qualified. You knew risks cannot be taken on the water with members of the public."
Skipper William Britton, 62, of Sidcup, south east London, was found not guilty of the manslaughter. But he was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, and a community order after pleading guilty to attempting to pervert justice.
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