A STOURPORT mother has said that if she were warned that her boat carrying 16 people, which later sank drowning one woman, was over-loaded she would have acted.

Yesterday Janice Ward became the first of the three defendants charged with the manslaughter of Jane Turner, who died after becoming trapped in the cabin of Sweetie Pie - a 23-foot long cruiser - on Saturday, September 6 2003, to take the stand as the defence began its case.

She, along with Tom Prescot and Ruth Pearson, both from Kidderminster, are accused of being criminally negligent because they allowed the boat to sail when it was seriously overloaded. They all deny the charge.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Ward said if Alan Stanley, chairman of Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) whom she had known for a number of years, had told them the boat was over-loaded she would have asked for the vessel to moor and let people off.

Ward, aged 43, said she was not alarmed when she saw Mr Stanley pull up in his rescue boat next to them.

"It just looked like he (Alan) was having a chat with Tom," she said.

"It is not unusual for him to pull up in his rescue boat and have a chat."

When Mr Stanley gave evidence two weeks ago he said he did not believe Sweetie Pie to be dangerously low in the water.

Ward agreed with defence barrister Rex Tedd that because she was a novice boater she placed her faith in Prescot, who used to be in the navy and owns two yachts, to be in charge of driving it.

"As the trip had progressed your faith in his (Prescot's) skill and ability had been well placed.

"He was running the boat competently and safely," said Mr Tedd.

Ward replied: "He was, yes."

The trial continues.