A man is facing criminal charges over a boating tragedy that claimed the life of his five-year-old son and a 28-year-old friend at Bulli earlier this year.
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The father and a second adult friend were winched to safety after their boat capsized off Waniora Point on the night of June 6.
In darkness, multiple rescue aircraft, boats and emergency services were brought in to find the missing duo. The boy's body was later recovered from inside the capsized vessel. The missing man's remains were recovered from waters near Corrimal the next afternoon.
The boy's father, aged 28, from Ashcroft, has been charged with two counts of operating a recreational vessel negligently causing death.
Police allege he caused the 5.5-metre runabout to capsize by failing to safely negotiate a reef at Waniora Point while travelling too fast for the conditions after sunset.
The matter was briefly mentioned at Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, where the man's lawyer entered pleas of not guilty to both charges on his behalf.
The man cannot be named because to do so would identify his son. It is illegal to publicly identify a child who has been the victim of a crime.
The matter returns to court on December 15.
Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
