Topec has today, Wednesday 12th June 2013 pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the August 2012 Paritutu Rock tragedy in which three people died. Spotswood College students Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye and Felipe Melo, both 17, and their Topec instructor Bryce Jourdain, 42, were swept out to sea on August 8th 2013 while climbing around Paritutu rock. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Health and Safety Group had laid four charges in the New Plymouth District Court. Topec chairman David Grigg and director Steve Ralph were in court as the centre pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching the Health and Safety in employment Act. The fourth charge was sadly dropped. A family member of one of the victims was watching from the gallery. Sentencing will be on September 6th 2013 at the New Plymouth District Court.
