Exuma Boat Explosion Case Appealed

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision on whether they will order a new trial for two men who were acquitted of causing a deadly tour boat explosion through negligence. 

The DPP’s Office has challenged a decision by a judge to direct the acquittal of  Four C’s Adventures founder Clayton Patterson Smith and his captain Roderick Watson on charges stemming from a June 30, 2018 explosion in Exuma that killed an American tourist and wounded four others.

Prosecutors argued that the judge erred when she withdrew the case from the jury last November, as there was sufficient evidence for the jury to reach a verdict.

By contrast, Murrio Ducille, KC, supported the judge’s ruling that the men did not have a case to answer.

The excursion to see the swimming pigs became a tragedy minutes after the boat left the dock.

Smith, who built the boat that prosecutors contended did not meet industry standards, was charged with negligently endangering the vessel’s passengers.

The pair were jointly charged with manslaughter by negligence in the death of Maleka Jackson.

Watson, the captain, was charged with negligently causing harm to Jackson’s husband, Tiran, Stephanie Schaffer, Stacy Bender and Paul Bender.

According to the prosecution’s case, the boat was unregistered and unlicensed and uninsured. Watson did not hold a captain’s license and he allegedly allowed an eight-year-old boy to fuel the tour boat.