Watson Murder Case - Discussion

[Geoff_H]

no, it should make you wary of interferring with your dive buddys equipment, telling numerous different statements to the police and carrying on like a pork chop afterwards towards the victims family

No - none of that is relevant. The facts - as reported with statements from Prosecutor Brendan Campbell indicate he was convicted for failing in his duty as a dive buddy. That is very alarming to me. People react differently under stressful situations and buddys fail others all the time. Some of these incidents lead to death and disability - buddy seperation is frequently a contributing factor to many scuba incidents.

I wouldn't want my insta-buddy wandering off, hurting himself and then for me to get prosecuted in a court and jhailed because I failed him. Remember there are often few witnesses underwater and the facts could be as stark as "You lost your buddy, nobody saw anything and your buddy is dead".

I seem to remember from a past exchange where you referred to Australian dive boats as "cattle boats" that you already have a pretty poor view of diving in Australia.... or is my memory playing tricks on me here?

Could it be possible that this is just another way to justify a pre-existing opinion?

Not in the slightest. I've never been to Australia, and don't have any pre-formed opinions about the diving. I've heard the GBR is great, would love to visit and plan to do so in the next couple of years.

It is of course only my opinion, but I feel that we should in life be held accountable for our actions.

I wonder how many of us really know how we would react in a crisis? My feeling is that very few of us do. It is easy to criticise, but fear, panic and self-preservation are extremely powerful instincts - especially underwater. I would like to think I would react well to a situation like this - but I am not sure - and I am absolutely convinced I would not have reacted well when I had fewer dives under my weightbelt.

I wonder if criminal liability is something we should all think about with this precedent.

 

[vtxkev]

I havent really followed this story until recently as I wasnt even thinking about scuba back when this happened (don't know what I was thinking), but anyway 4-1/2 years with possibility of parole after 12 months (if I understand it correctly) sounds like a crock of you know what to me. You get more time in jail for selling drugs. Guess Aus is no different then the good ol USA!

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Not in the slightest. I've never been to Australia, and don't have any pre-formed opinions about the diving. I've heard the GBR is great, would love to visit and plan to do so in the next couple of years.

My apologies the exchange I remember must have been with someone else that used that term. I am glad I asked as I would not want my interpretation of your posts colored by a misunderstanding.

I still think people are jumping to conclusions based on a few words reported in the press.

Gabe at the least influenced Tina's decision to get certified, do a dive that was challenging for her, promised her and her parents he would take care of her based on his qualifications. That is a lot different from an instabuddy on a dive trip!

 

[Tricia]

Dadvocate wrote:

"Granted, he would probably need a ghost writer to complete the project. Feasible?"

Dadvocate - just thinking of those interviews he gave, you've got me ROFL!!

Trish

 

[james croft]

Gabe Watson is one reason you should carry a real knife, not EMT shears or a broken steak knife.

 

[AquaExplorer]

News Report:

Senior prosecutor Brendan Campbell asked that Watson be sentenced to five years jail, to serve 18 months. Watson's defence team has asked for a jail term of four years, to serve 16 months.

He said WatsonÃÔ actions represented a gross breach of duty in his role as TinaÃÔ dive buddy and as a certified rescue diver.

Source: Watson pleads guilty to honeymoon death - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Anyone here thinks this is crazy? So now, if you have a rescue certification and you panic, or you are low on air or have any other reason you can't help someone - you are now liable? Isn't this a dangerous precedent the prosecution is setting? I understand that deals are made by lessening the offense - but to say this was a breach of duty as a rescue diver? This should have been voluntary manslaughter at a minimum - and what they are saying sounds like a description of an even lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. If they wanted to make a deal, it should have been - he killed her in the heat of passion, at a higher charge of voluntary manslaughter.

The prosecution is not giving Tina the justice she deserved. I want to know more about the prosecution's reasoning behind this and I want to know if they consulted with Tina's family before making this deal. I want to know how the family feels about the deal.

Was the prosecution trying to save time, resources and money? Or, did they not have the evidence? If they didn't have the evidence - why would Watson agree to spend even 16-18 months in jail? I'm sorry - but I think its about the money, as well as avoiding bad publicity for scuba diving - a major industry in that area. Let's face it, this trial is not good for scuba.

I don't think we will ever know the real story behind this deal. I think it stinks.

THAT was what I was waiting for people to see.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter based on NEGLIGENCE.

So we now have precedence, at least in Australia, that a DM/Rescue Diver CAN be prosecuted for failure to render aid.

Scary stuff.....

 

[Geoff_H]

THAT was what I was waiting for people to see.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter based on NEGLIGENCE.

So we now have precedence, at least in Australia, that a DM/Rescue Diver CAN be prosecuted for failure to render aid.

Scary stuff.....

I agree. It is a stunning precedent, and one that does not sit particularly comfortably with me.

 

[Grover48]

Since he has admitted guilt, does this open him to a civil suit for damages from her parents ala OJ?

 

[Missdirected]

Even though I said I wasn't going to say a word, see innocenceproject.org

Will check out later running late for an appointment right now. Is this the project where they are getting people off that were judged guilty but weren't???

 

[ScubaSteve]

This is just enough to make a person sick to their stomach. The fact that a person could do what has been done, and to possibly get out in 18 months? I know people that have had longer employment parole periods. Just crazy. I would love to hear that some punishment has been dealt DAILY by the inmates.....