Princes Sporting Club Limited today pleaded guilty to section 1(1) of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 following the death of an 11-year-old girl resulting from a water sports activity organised on 11 September 2010 on Back Lake, Clockhouse Lane, Bedfont, Middlesex. The company was ordered to pay a fine of £134,579.69.
Elizabeth Joslin of the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said:
“This is a tragic case in which 11-year-old Mari-Simon Cronje died during a birthday party at Princes Sporting Club Ltd.
“Today’s guilty plea to corporate manslaughter is an acknowledgement that there were significant failings in the way water sports were organised at this club.
“This was a gross breach of the duty of care owed to Mari-Simon which could have been avoided by having a competent adult in the towing boat acting as an observer and we are pleased this company has been held criminally accountable for this significant failing.
“We sincerely hope that the message of this case is clearly understood by all parts of the leisure industry offering similar rides.
“Our thoughts are with Mari-Simon’s parents and brother at this time.”
