Fishing boat skipper's widow angry at 'lenient' sentence

A FRENCH widow yesterday spoke of her anger and disappointment at 'lenient' sentences handed down to senior officers of the Condor Vitesse vessel who killed her husband.

Paul Le Romancer, 58, French master of the ferry and his first officer Yves Tournon, 48, were given 18 months and 12 months suspended sentences by a court in Coutances, Normandy.

They were found guilty of manslaughter, causing unintentional injuries and failing to respect maritime regulations.

Fishing boat captain Philippe Lesaulnier, 42, a father of four children, was killed after the Vitesse smashed into his vessel in thick fog more than two years ago.

His widow Delphine Lesaulnier, her children and a friend of the dead fisherman appeared stunned as the captain of the ferry walked free from court with a suspended sentence. Tournon did not come forward to hear the judge's verdict when his name was called and was apparently not present in the court building.

An earlier prosecution call for firm prison sentences to be handed down was ignored by judges.