The man allegedly responsible for killing two women when the boat he was navigating crashed in the Mandurah Estuary has pleaded not guilty to two charges of manslaughter.
John Burdon, 47, is the husband of Debbie Burdon, 54, who died along with her best friend Kylie Bazzo, 52, around 10pm on January 21 when they were both flung from the vessel.
John Burdon has been charged with two counts of manslaughter.
Burdon also received serious injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital while a fourth man was uninjured.
Witnesses to the crash, Lois Owen and Nichole Jones-Howard, who were on a nearby boat, told 9 News Perth they saw the horror event unfold.
“We just heard this bang, and then Glen said to Lois head straight there, they’ve hit that pylon, and we said, ‘Who is missing?’, and they kept calling out, Kylie,” they said.
Debbie Burdon and Kylie Bazzo were best friends.
Bazzo was the mother of young West Coast Eagles recruit Rhett Bazzo, and widow of former WAFL great, Steve Bazzo.
A West Coast statement said at the time the club was devastated by Kylie’s death and asked for the privacy of Rhett and his family be respected.
“The club’s players, staff and board extend their deepest condolences to the Bazzo family and are offering every support to Rhett, his sister Kameron and their loved ones,” the statement said.
At a previous hearing, prosecutors revealed Burdon had a previous drink-driving conviction from 2019.
Burdon appeared at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday to enter his not guilty plea to two charges of the unlawful killing.
His matter will now proceed to trial.
Burdon’s bail was extended and he is due to appear in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on December 18.
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