A man charged with failing to give way after a fatal boat crash that claimed the life of a young Kyneton girl has been fined $1000.
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Brian Matthews, 45, pleaded guilty at Bendigo Magistrates Court this afternoon to one count of breaching the collision contravention, the Bendigo Advertiser reports.
The single charge falls under the Marine Safety Regulations Act 2012 and is the equivalent of failing to give way.
Courtney Keast,12, was with a friend and their family at Lake Eppalock on January 10 when the incident occurred.
Courtney suffered serious head injuries as a result and lost her fight for life two days later.
Her mother Jodie wiped tears from her eyes as Matthews' lawyer Ashlee Cannon applied for the matter to be dealt with by diversion on Thursday morning.
A judicial registrar refused the application.
Matthews' lawyer Ashlee Cannon appealed the decision, but the application was again refused by magistrate Richard Wright.
Following the decision, Matthews pleaded guilty to the charge which carries a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units or almost $3000.
In sentencing Matthews, Mr Wright said his plea and clean record had been taken into consideration.
He fined Matthews $1000, without conviction.
