A HAMPSHIRE businessman caused the death of his friend by “showing off” while driving a high-powered boat and crashing into his luxury cruiser at 30mph, a court has heard.

Ryan McKinlay, a father-of-one from Gosport, died following the accident in Osborne Bay off the Isle of Wight on June 19, 2015.

Aaron Brown, 34, chief operating officer of telecoms firm OneCom, of Botley Road, Curdridge, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of the 36-year-old, which he denies.

Nick Tucker, prosecuting, said that Brown had taken a group of friends, ex-footballer Lee Molyneux and ex-Portsmouth and Cherries player Lee Bradbury for a day out aboard his 62ft Fairline Targa cabin cruiser, True Blue, from Swanwick.

During the afternoon, Brown and his hired skipper, Paul Carey, took turns to take the cruiser’s rigid inflatable boat (Rib) out of the vessel’s on-board garage to go for “thrill-seeking” joyrides.

The jury was shown dramatic footage filmed by Mr McKinlay’s wife, Fran, which showed Brown driving the Rib with her husband on board at speed towards the cruiser and colliding with its stern and the vessel’s swimming platform.

Mr Tucker said the defendant “desperately” tried to steer away from the True Blue, but the rib veered to the left and crashed into the swimming platform.

He continued: “Mr McKinlay, sitting at the front, had no chance. The swimming platform hit him in the chest at full force and threw him into the water.

“Mr Brown was catapulted into the air and onto the swimming platform, and he escaped with minor injuries,” said Mr Tucker.

Mr McKinlay died later that day at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight.

The court heard that Mr Brown had undertaken a Royal Yachting Association Powerboat Level Two course in 2012, which the prosecution said, has a section on the importance of keeping a “safe speed” and not sailing needlessly close to other vessels.

Mr Tucker said that Brown ignored “ignored that advice (in order) to show off.

“He chose to pilot the boat towards a 38-tonne cruiser at something like 30mph with his friend sitting at the front of the boat and hanging on, and as a result Ryan McKinlay was killed.”

He continued: “The prosecution say that Ryan McKinlay would not have died that day had Mr Brown not driven the boat so fast and at such proximity to another vessel.”

Mr Tucker said: “He was driving the same boat at speed which we say was unsafe and which contributed to a climate in which Mr Brown was encouraged to do the same.”

He added that the Rib was capable of speeds of up to 40mph and said: “It’s ideal for boat owners.

“It was an accident, but it was an accident that was foreseeable and wholly avoidable.”

Witness to the incident was Lee Molyneux, pictured inset above, who gave evidence in court.

Mr Molyneux, who was onboard the True Blue, was recording footage on his phone when the incident happened.

Earlier that day he had been on board the rib, and said that he felt it was exciting and there were some sharp turns by Carey.

Carey, 52, of Chatsworth Road, Southampton, denies a charge of driving too fast in contravention of Merchant Shipping regulations.

Later that day Mr Molyneux was recording footage on his phone and caught the fatal crash on camera.

He said: “It was a blur, I just remember a loud noise and an impact and I saw Aaron ending up on the back of the boat on the swimming platform.”

Mr Molyneux told the court he deleted footage, as he felt it was traumatic and did not want to be reminded of what happened.

He said he, his manager, Lee Bradbury and Robert Leatherland jumped into the water to try to revive Mr McKinley.

They got him aboard the True Blue, but their CPR attempts were unsuccessful.

In a statement days after the incident, Mr Molyneux had said that the rib had left the water and it may have been affected by a wave, he described the speed of the rib as “consistent”, and similar to how it was when driven by Paul Carey.

A statement from RNLI crewman Christopher Newbrook who attended the scene, was read out.

He said that Brown was initially aggressive and had refused medical treatment but later had a change of heart. Mr Newbrook added he could also smell alcohol on Brown’s breath, and that he was visibly shocked by events.

PC Martin Norman, told the court that Brown was “deeply shocked” when told about his friend’s death, and although he could smell alcohol on Brown’s breath, he was not drunk.

The trial continues, and is expected to last two weeks.