Hang glider pilot accused of killing passenger
A hang glider pilot has been charged with manslaughter after a tourist plunged 650 feet to her death during a tandem flight in New Zealand.
Canadian pilot Stephen Parson, 52, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Eleni Zeri, a 23-year-old Greek graduate, died after slipping from his hang glider near Queenstown on South Island.
The Queenstown District Court was told Parson had failed to attach Zeri's harness to the glider.
"It is a core requirement. It was of major importance to hook her on and as a consequence she died," prosecutor Alistair Garland said.
Parson knew he had a serious problem as soon as he took off because Zeri was hanging too low and the carabiner clip on her harness was not attached to the glider, said Garland.
"She was only holding on with her hands," he said.
Parson had wrapped his legs around her waist to try to keep a grip on her, but Zeri had told him said she couldn't hang on much longer, Garland said.
"She was unable to hold on. She fell to the ground," he added.
Ambulance officer Russell Glendinning said Parson told him the accident was his fault.
