Man drowned after night of 'much frivolity'

Drunken party antics which resulted in the death of a young man had repercussions in Alexandra District Court yesterday.

Cromwell man Ricky Joseph Gregory, 22, drowned during a party at Lake Te Anau to celebrate a birthday in August.

He and two others hatched a plan to free a dinghy and row to a float plane during a night of drinking and "much frivolity", Alexandra District Court was told.

However, the dinghy they stole started to fill with water and tipped over. Mr Gregory could not swim and drowned in the freezing water.

Terri Maree Tisdall, 21, and Glenn Stuart Watson, 23, both of Cromwell appeared in court yesterday, the Southland Times reported.

Tisdall admitted dishonestly getting into a dinghy and dishonestly interfering with a catamaran on August 1. Watson admitted unlawfully taking, getting into and interfering with a boat and disorderly behaviour.

Their lawyer Maxine Knowler said that Watson lived with his friend's death every day, while Tisdall suffered feelings of guilt, inadequacy and failure.

"Nothing I could impose on you would be as harsh as what you have already suffered," Judge Paul Kelliher said.

Tisdall was convicted and discharged on both charges.

Watson was convicted and discharged on the disorderly charge. He was sentenced to 12 months' supervision and ordered to pay $270 reparation for the other offences.

- NZPA