A judge has adjourned sentencing in the case of a helmsman found guilty of killing a party-goer who died when the pleasure cruiser he was in charge of capsized and sank.
Thomas Prescott, of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was convicted on Wednesday of causing the death of Jane Turner.
The 48-year-old was due to be sentenced yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court by Mr Justice Calvert-Smith.
But the High Court judge postponed the hearing, saying he wanted to give Ms Turner's family and friends the opportunity to consult with their legal advisers.
Ms Turner, a 45-year-old tax worker, was invited to a boat-warming party organised by Prescott's co-defendants, Janice Ward and Ruth Pearson, who owned the vessel.
But the "seriously overloaded" vessel - the Sweetie Pie - capsized as attempts were made to moor it in Stourporton-Severn marina on the evening of September 6, 2003.
Party-goers were thrown in to the water and Ms Turner, from Castle Bromwich, was trapped in the boat's cabin.
It took a jury nearly 12 hours to find Prescott, of George Street, Kidderminster, guilty of manslaughter and decided he had been criminally negligent in allowing 16 people to board the boat, which was designed for six or seven people only.
Pearson, (39), St George's Terrace, Kidderminster, was cleared of the same charge. But the panel were unable to reach a verdict in the case of Prescott's then-partner, Ward. The 43-year-old, of Worcester Road, Stourport, was also charged with manslaughter. She could face a retrial.
Christopher Millington QC, defending Prescott, made a case for a suspended sentence for his client.
The lawyer said there had been a defect on the boat which amounted to "almost the preeminent cause of death" and invited the judge to consider that the lack of a water-tight compartment was an " exceptional circumstance" which should be taken into account.
The judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, ordered presentence reports on Prescott, who is on bail, and postponed sentencing until May 20.
