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L'Ecume II: Two men go on trial over fatal collision at sea

L'Ecume II fishing trawler and (inset) Commodore Goodwill

Two men go on trial in Jersey today ( 1 Sept) accused of manslaughter following the sinking of a fishing trawler that collided with a freight ship almost three years ago.

Artur Sevash-Zade (35) and Lewis Peter Carr (29) deny causing the deaths of L'Ecume II skipper Michael Michieli and his two crew, Jervis Baligat and Larry Simyunn.

Their vessel sank following a collision with the Commodore Goodwill off Jersey's west coast at around 5.30am on 8 December 2022.

The L'Ecume II wreckage sank 40 metres, and a major rescue operation was launched to find the fishermen.

Several days later, the fishing trawler's crewmen, Jervis Baligat and Larry Simyunn, were recovered from the sea.

It would be in April 2023 that the missing skipper would be found in the wreckage, which was brought ashore using specialist divers and technology.

Filipino nationals Jervis Baligat (left) and Larry Simyunn (right), and their Skipper, Michael Michieli (centre)

Artur Sevash-Zade, from Ukraine, was arrested and charged on suspicion of manslaughter on 3 July 2023. Lewis Peter Carr, from Sunderland in the UK, was arrested and charged on 24 July 2023.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges on 27 September 2024.

The men will face a Royal Court jury trial at the government buildings on the Parade.

The trial is expected to go on for several weeks.

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