Outback Ballooning weighing up plea over 2013 death of tourist Stephanie Bernoth
AN Alice Springs ballooning company may consider entering a plea over the death of a woman during one of its flights in 2013, a court has heard.
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- Witnesses sought in balloon company’s appeal of charges after 2013 death of tourist
- Alice Springs ballooning company to be prosecuted over 2013 death
AN Alice Springs ballooning company may consider entering a plea over the death of a woman during one of its flights in 2013, a court has heard.
Sydney woman Stephanie Bernoth, 35, was on holiday in Alice Springs in July 2013 with her partner and was boarding a flight when her scarf became entangled in a large inflation fan, resulting in injuries from which she died a week later.
The long-running legal matter is between Outback Ballooning and the Work Health Authority.
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In Alice Springs Local Court on Monday, defence lawyer Geoffrey Stirk said his client may consider entering a plea but it would depend on the outcome of another civil legal matter next month.
In 2019 the High Court cleared the way for Outback Ballooning to be prosecuted over Ms Bernoth’s death.
In 2015, the Alice Springs Magistrates Court ruled NT WorkSafe could not prosecute because commonwealth air safety regulation “covered the field” of air safety, preventing the Northern Territory authorities from prosecuting under workplace safety laws.
NT WorkSafe claims Outback Ballooning failed to warn passengers about the risk of loose clothing, scarfs and long hair and should have set up a barrier around the large fan used to inflate the balloon.
The matter was adjourned to February 8 for a mention.
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