British Sailor Acquitted of Attempted Homicide in 'Divine Mission' Yacht Incident

A British sailor, Jeremy Orritt, 61, has been acquitted of attempted aggravated homicide and domestic violence after spending 16 months in custody. He was accused of throwing his girlfriend, Larissa Lemare, into the River Tagus off Oeiras, Portugal, in May 2025. Prosecutors alleged that Orritt knew Lemare could not swim and that he assaulted her before pushing her overboard and sailing away.

The Cascais judicial court, however, did not accept the prosecution's version of events and ruled there was a lack of evidence for the charges, according to his lawyer, Teresa Fialho de Sousa.

Weeks before his arrest, Orritt, who referred to himself as Captain Jez, had described plans to sail to the Mediterranean with Lemare on his 34-foot yacht, the SV Mariner. He stated they were seeking vegan crew members for a voyage to sacred sites worldwide to herald an era of love, peace, and understanding. Orritt described the yacht's interior as resembling a gypsy caravan and noted it remained functional despite its age. The couple had sailed down the Brittany coast and across the Bay of Biscay before intending to continue along the Atlantic coast to Portugal.

Lemare, from Totnes, Devon, had previously spoken about the strain of the voyage in a social media message to a friend. She mentioned taking a break after three difficult months at sea but reiterated her commitment to Orritt, stating she had pledged to support him through all circumstances. She described their shared struggles as strengthening their bond, emphasizing that love's deepest strength is revealed in vulnerability.

According to Portugal's Public Prosecutor's Office, Orritt and Lemare had been in a relationship for approximately a year and began living together when their sailing trip commenced in December 2024. Prosecutors had alleged prior incidents of verbal and physical violence. The court's decision to acquit Orritt means he is no longer facing these charges. While Orritt was in custody, Lemare is reported to have continued traveling, including crewing a yacht in the Caribbean.