Jet ski 'hoon' jailed over swimmer's death at Port Melbourne

A jet ski driver who was "hooning" in a swimmer's only zone off Port Melbourne when he struck and killed a father has been sentenced to five years' jail, amid emotional scenes at a Melbourne court.

The Age reported that as the 24-year-old accused was led into custody from Melbourne's County Court on Friday, some of his family - refugees who fled religious persecution in Iraq in 2000 - and friends cried, wailed and screamed uncontrollably.

The court heard that the accused, Ivan Maqi, was "hooning, show boating and fanging" his jet ski at speeds up to 70 kilometres per hour in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay before he hit Robert Brewster, aged 51, on the afternoon of 24th February 2012.

Maqi was driving the jet ski in a swimmers' only zone between Lagoon and Kerford Piers off Port Melbourne, pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable driving causing death.

It was the first day he had operated the jet ski.

Shortly after the fatality, parties including then Port Phillip Mayor Rachel Powning and the Port Melbourne Yacht Club called for regulations to enforce a greater separation of swimmers and jet-skiers in Port Phillip Bay.

The Mail Online reported that Maqi’s brother attacked media outside the Melbourne court, shouting obscenities while trying to prevent a cameraman from filming Maqi's family leaving the court.

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Image courtesy of City of Port Phillip. Image used for illustrative purporses only.

27th February 2012 - PORT PHILLIP BAY DEATH PROMPTS CALLS FOR MORE JET-SKI RESTRICTIONS