Captain charged in North Sound boat death

A South African captain was arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 22 boat wreck in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound that resulted in the death of St. Thomas resident Stephen Cross Jr., police said Friday morning.

Lesley Joubert, 36, appeared at the Magistrates’ Court and was granted $120,000 cash bail to return to court on Feb. 11, according to the Police Information Office.

Police added that investigations are ongoing, but they didn’t provide further information about the allegations against Mr. Joubert.

Collision

Previously, they said the collision occurred near Saba Rock shortly after 6 p.m.

“Preliminary reports indicate that a 21-foot RHIB collided with a dinghy, resulting in serious injuries to one individual,” police said in a Nov. 26 statement.

The injured person was Mr. Cross, who was immediately transported to the Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda and then to the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital on Tortola for medical treatment, according to the Police Information Office.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, Mr. Cross succumbed to his injuries,” police stated at the time.