Two Rotorua Boys' High School students charged in relation to a jetskiing incident that resulted in the death of their friend must complete a skipper's licence before facing sentencing.
Teimana Harrison and Ricardo Maaka, both 18, appeared in Rotorua District Court yesterday charged with operating a ship in a manner likely
to cause unnecessary danger to persons or property. They had both previously pleaded guilty.
On January 8, the two and fellow Rotorua Boys' High School student Bishop Thompson, 17, were riding jetskis on Lake Okareka. Bishop fell and was struck by one of the jetskis and disappeared under the water. His body was found by navy divers five days later.
Harrison and Maaka have been given time by the court to complete their restorative justice programme which includes presenting a water safety programme to Rotorua Intermediate School and Rotorua Boys' High School, sitting their day skipper's licence and undertaking counselling.
Judge Russell Callander commended the teenagers on a water safety DVD they had made.
"It was very well done, I thought you got the message across," he said.
The pair were supported in court by their families, friends, school principal Chris Grinter and Bishop's mother and grandmother.
They will re-appear in court for sentencing on June 30.
