A British sailor accused of attempting to kill his girlfriend by pushing her overboard during a voyage has been acquitted by a court in Portugal. Jeremy Orritt, 61, was held in custody for 16 months following an incident last year near Oeiras, close to Lisbon, where prosecutors alleged he threw Larissa Lemare, 38, into the River Tagus. Orritt faced charges of attempted aggravated homicide and domestic violence, but the Cascais Judicial Court found insufficient evidence to support the claims.

The incident occurred on May 30, when Lemare was reportedly thrown into the river from Orritt’s 34-foot Westerly Falcon yacht, the SV Mariner. She was rescued by a passing boat and taken to hospital. Portuguese authorities stated that Orritt was aware Lemare could not swim, and accused him of assault prior to pushing her into the water. Orritt, originally from Bath in Somerset, denied the allegations throughout the legal proceedings.

Prior to the incident, Orritt had publicly advertised the upcoming journey aboard his yacht, seeking crew members for what he described as a “divine mission” to sail to the Mediterranean. In this advertisement, he expressed a vision of promoting love, peace, and unity through the voyage, which he said would involve “conscious, vegan crew” and referenced themes such as the “return of the Goddess” and equilibrium between the divine masculine and feminine. He noted that he and Lemare were based in northern Spain at the time, waiting for suitable weather to continue their trip.

During his detention, Lemare, from Totnes, Devon, continued international travel and reportedly took part in crewing other yachts in the Caribbean. Correspondence from Lemare revealed the emotional and physical challenges she experienced during the voyage with Orritt. She described the relationship as one tested by hardships but strengthened through shared adversity, emphasizing a commitment to stand by each other despite difficulties.

Portugal’s Public Prosecutor’s Office noted that Orritt and Lemare had been in a relationship for about a year and began cohabiting when their circumnavigation began in December 2024.

Orritt’s lawyer, Teresa Fialho de Sousa, confirmed his acquittal on the grounds of insufficient evidence to prove the charges. The case highlights the complexities involved in incidents during private maritime voyages, involving both legal and personal dimensions.