A NEW Zealand company and its owner are facing charges over the death of former Worcester schoolgirl Emily Jordan.

Brad McLeod, director of Black Sheep Adventures Ltd, appeared at Queenstown District Court on Monday.

The charges, three against McLeod and three against the company, include failing to ensure the actions or inaction of employees did not harm Miss Jordan.

The other charges, which have been laid under Health and Safety Employment Act 1992, were failure to take all practical steps to ensure the safety of employees and the prevention of possible hazards.

McLeod entered no plea and the case was adjourned until Monday, February 9.

As previously reported in your Worcester News, Miss Jordan drowned while riverboarding on the Kawarau river in New Zealand’s south island in April this year.

The 21-year-old former Alice Ottley School (now RGSAO) pupil was travelling with her boyfriend after graduating from Swansea University with a first class degree in law.

Her father Chris Jordan, of Trimpley, near Bewdley, said: “I am disappointed the case is being delayed because it creates more stress for the family and Emily’s friends, but the judicial process has to be followed.”

Since the accident companies have taken part in a safety workshop on the river and regulating authority Maritime New Zealand hope to have industry safety guidelines in place by the end of the year.

Although riverboarding continues to happen on the river, there is an interim ban on going near the area where Miss Jordan died when water levels are below 100 cubic meters (cumecs) a second.

On the day Miss Jordan died the river flow was 70-90 cumecs.