Dinghy in collision death 'a new buy'

Mark Tissiman, of Kidderminster Road, Bewdley, was towing the new GP14 sailing dinghy behind his Range Rover when the boat's mast allegedly came lose from its fastening and pierced the windscreen of a passing Rover saloon.

The 26-foot tall mast narrowly missed driver Duncan Smith, but hit passenger Sarah Louise James, of Highley, causing severe injuries to her face and neck.

She later died at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham following the incident in June 2008.

The court yesterday heard she died after the mast pierced the windscreen of the car she was travelling in like "a lance in a medieval jousting contest".

Mr Tissiman denies causing death by dangerous driving.

Hereford Crown Court later heard that Tissiman had purchased the £8,000 vessel from a boatbuilding firm in Aldridge, near Walsall, just weeks before the accident.

Boatbuilder Stephen Parker told the court that Tissiman always part-exchanged or purchased a new craft about every three years. He said he had known the defendant for about 20 years.

He said Tissiman had purchased the boat along with a new trailer and separate launch unit trolley.

Mr Peter Arnold, prosecuting, asked Mr Parker about the knots used to tie down the boat onto the trailer being used to transport the dinghy from Chelmarsh reservoir, near Bridgnorth, to Tissiman's home in Bewdley.

"The way the ropes were tied was different to the way I personally would have tied them to secure the mast," he replied.

Earlier the court was told that the mast punctured the windscreen of the Rover saloon as it was passing Tissiman's Range Rover towing the boat along the B4194 near Bewdley.

Mr Smith said he heard a crack when the mast came through the glass. He said he failed to get any response from Miss James when he tried to talk to her after the collision.

Mr Arnold added: "If the mast was tied up did Mr Tissiman, an experienced sailor, tie it up in a competent way?"

The case continues.

By Brett Gibbons