NSW: Man arrested over horrific harbour collision
26 Nov 2008 6:38 PM
SYDNEY, Nov 26 AAP - A man has been arrested in Queensland over the Sydney Harbour boating collision that killed six young revellers earlier this year, NSW police say.
A 24-year-old man had been arrested in relation to the crash off Bradleys Head, that killed two men and six women and injured nine others, NSW police said on Wednesday.
Police would not confirm the name of the man, but in July the Director of Public Prosecutions was reportedly asked to consider laying charges against Percy Small, a 24-year-old barman.
NSW detectives travelled to Queensland's Sunshine Coast where they made the arrest early Wednesday afternoon.
The man is being questioned at Maroochydore Police Station, and police said charges were expected to be laid on Wednesday night.
The arrest follows months of speculation about who was skippering the overloaded runabout at the time of the crash.
It was initially claimed another survivor, Matthew Reynolds, was at the helm.
However, attention turned to Mr Small, who worked at Balmain's Commercial Hotel, following a denial from Mr Reynolds.
Alex Rumiz, 22, Stacey Wright, 21, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Holder, 20, Ashlei Ayres, 32, and Jessica Savanna Holloway, 25, were killed when the fishing trawler and an overloaded runabout collided near Bradleys Head on May 1.
One of those rescued - Alex Nikakis, 29 - later died in hospital from severe brain injuries.
There were 14 people on the 23-foot runabout, which was licensed to carry only eight.
