Michael Simpson faces attempted murder charge over diver assault
Developing story first seen 1 hour ago
A Florida man, named as Michael Simpson, has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after allegedly cutting off a teenage diver's air supply during a violent clash between rival lobster diving boats. The confrontation broke out on the water amid an apparent dispute between the two vessels' crews, escalating into an assault that put the teenager's life at risk. The case has drawn attention for the severity of the alleged act, given that tampering with a diver's air supply underwater could easily prove fatal.
Details of what sparked the original dispute between the boats, and the full sequence of events leading up to the alleged attack, have not been fully disclosed. Simpson now faces the attempted murder charge in court, with the case likely to hinge on evidence about the confrontation and the alleged act of cutting the teenager's air supply.
- Man charged with attempted murder over Florida lobster boat dispute
- Accused, Michael Simpson, allegedly cut off teen diver's air supply
- Simpson has appeared in court to face the charge
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Michael Simpson is a Florida man now facing an attempted murder charge after a violent confrontation between two lobster diving boats. Prosecutors allege he cut off the air supply of a teenage diver during the clash, an act that could have proved fatal underwater. He has appeared in court to answer the charge.
The case centres on a dispute between the crews of rival boats, though the precise cause of the disagreement and the full chain of events have not been made public. It matters because it involves a serious criminal charge stemming from what began as a dispute at sea, and because the alleged method of assault, tampering with diving equipment, carries an unusually high risk to life.
The court process will likely focus on establishing exactly what happened during the confrontation and whether the evidence supports the attempted murder charge against Simpson.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Fight erupts between lobster diving boats as man allegedly cuts off teenager’s air supply before being hauled to court on attempted murder charge”.