Man fined $3k over waterskiing death

A Wellington real estate agent who was at the wheel of a boat that ran over and killed a young waterskier on Lake Taupo was today fined $3000 and ordered to pay reparation of $20,000. John James Curtis, 34, real estate agent, last month pleaded guilty in Taupo District Court to a charge of using a boat in a manner causing unnecessary danger to another person.

Nine-year-old Genevieve Lewis, of Ekatahuna, died after being run over when she came off her skis while waterskiing behind her parents' boat at Waipahihi Bay on January 6.

Curtis took part in a restorative justice process with the family. The court was told the $20,000 reparation would go towards the promotion of safer boating, as agreed to by Genevieve's family.

The maximum penalty for the charge is a $10,000 fine or 12 months' imprisonment.

- NZPA