Rigger wreck captain charged
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The captain of the world's oldest square rigger, which was wrecked off the Cornish coast with the loss of three lives, was charged yesterday with manslaughter.
Mark Lichfield, 55, reported to Maidstone police station in Kent over the sinking of the 137-year-old Maria Asumpta.
He faces three charges of manslaughter resulting from the crew deaths when the 125-foot wooden vessel went aground on rocks near Padstow, on the north Cornwall coast, on 30 May last year.
He is further charged under Section 32 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 of endangering the ship and the lives of her crew.
Lichfield, of Boxley, near Maidstone, and director of Yale Fleet Ltd, based in Lenham, near Maidstone, has been bailed to appear before Bodmin magistrates, in Cornwall, on 19 April.
The three crew members who died were Ann Taylor, 50, of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, 19-year-old Emily MacFarlane, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, and John Shannon, 24, of Queensland, Australia.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments