Inquiry into death of fisherman likely to be held in October
A FURTHER preliminary hearing has been fixed for 14 July in preparation for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Edison Lacaste who died after falling overboard from a Lerwick registered whitefish trawler.
The 45-year-old Filipino national died in the early hours of 18 February 2021 when he fell overboard from the Copious LK985 while the vessel was trawling 30 miles southeast of Sumburgh.
During a first preliminary hearing on Friday the Crown asked for more time to prepare for the inquiry, and to share documents with the other parties concerned namely the owners of the Copious, 60North Shetland (Fishing) Ltd, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Extra time was needed to agree some of the evidence with all parties concerned, check witnesses’ availability and also to communicate with the deceased’s widow who lives in the Philippines, procurator fiscal Stella Swan told the online hearing.
There was also agreement to wait for the final report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) into the accident to be published.
The inquiry is expected to last between three and four days and will be held in person at Lerwick Sheriff Court, likely during a period either at the start or the end of October.
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