A JURY was today due to retire in the case of the Hampshire businessman accused of manslaughter on The Solent.

Judge Keith Cutler, the Recorder of Winchester, started his summing up following counsels’ closing speeches yesterday at Winchester Crown Court.

Aaron Brown, 33, of Botley Road, Curdridge, denies manslaughter by gross negligence of his friend Ryan McKinlay, 36 in a speedboat crash in June 2015.

The trial has heard that Brown, chief operating officer of One Com in Whiteley, was driving a rib boat that collided with a yacht. Mr McKinlay, a passenger, suffered fatal injuries.

The prosecution alleges Brown was driving the boat too quickly and too close to the yacht.

Paul Carey, 52, of Chatsworth Road, Southampton, is accused of driving the rib too fast in breach of merchant shipping regulations. He denies the charge.

Proceeding.