Rome: Italian prosecutors are set to investigate James Cutfield, the captain of the superyacht belonging to British tech magnate Mike Lynch, which sank off Sicily last week during a severe storm. The incident resulted in the deaths of Lynch and six others, according to Italian media reports on Monday.
Investigation Details
International News Agency Reuters reported that they have not independently verified the investigation decision. In Italy, being placed under investigation does not imply guilt and does not guarantee that formal charges will follow. Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck, as reported by La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera. Magistrates questioned Cutfield for over two hours on Sunday, marking the second time he has been interviewed this week. Prosecutors are also considering investigating a surviving crew member who was on duty when the storm struck.
Incident Overview
The British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) superyacht, was carrying 22 people when it capsized and sank on Monday after being hit by a sudden pre-dawn storm while anchored off northern Sicily. Of the 22 people on board, 15 survived, including Lynch’s wife, whose company owned the Bayesian. Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was among the deceased.
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Potential Legal Implications
Ambrogio Cartosio, the head of the public prosecutor’s office of Termini Imerese, suggested that crimes such as multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence could be considered, given the sudden meteorological event. Maritime law places full responsibility for the ship, crew, and passengers on the captain.
Crew and Design Insights
Cutfield and his eight surviving crew members have yet to comment publicly on the incident. Franco Romani, a nautical architect involved in designing the Bayesian, speculated in an interview with La Stampa that the yacht might have taken on water through an open side hatch. Romani criticized the crew for underestimating the storm and failing to secure all openings and remove the anchor before the storm struck.
