21 Jul 2010

Ferry trio committed to Supreme Court

8:55 pm on 21 July 2010

Three men charged with manslaughter over the Princess Ashika ferry sinking in Tonga have had their cases committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

Seventy-four people drowned when the ferry sank in August last year.

In preliminary hearings in the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, the ferry's captain and first mate, and the former chief executive of the Shipping Corporation, New Zealander John Jonesse, were referred to the Supreme Court on the manslaughter charges.

All three also face charges of sending an unseaworthy vessel to sea.

The case of a fourth man facing charges, the director of marine, is to be processed through a preliminary inquiry.

Tonga's police commander says there may be more arrests as further evidence is gathered.