In a tragic maritime disaster that unfolded off Sicily’s coast last week, the captain of a luxury yacht owned by British technology tycoon Mike Lynch finds himself under scrutiny for possible manslaughter and shipwreck charges, as reported by Italian media sources. The incident, which occurred near the fishing village of Porticello, close to Palermo, on the early hours of 19 August, resulted in the yacht, the 56-metre Bayesian, succumbing to a severe storm, leading to the deaths of Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, and five others, while 15 individuals survived.
James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander who captained the ill-fated vessel, has been interrogated by prosecutors for a second time, following which he was advised to secure legal representation. This development comes as part of the procedural steps required by Italian authorities to proceed with autopsies on the victims, which are to be conducted at Palermo’s Policlinico hospital.
It’s important to note that being under investigation in Italy does not presuppose guilt or guarantee that formal charges will be brought forward. Despite this, Cutfield’s legal team, led by Giovanni Rizzuti, expressed their client’s profound distress over the incident and mentioned their ongoing efforts to formulate a defence strategy while scrutinising the technical details of the case.
The investigation may extend beyond Cutfield, with other crew members potentially facing questions. However, officials from the prosecutor’s office in Termini Imerese have refrained from commenting on the matter. Meanwhile, the survivors, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, have departed Sicily, while some crew members remain, possibly facing further inquiries.
Authorities are diligently examining various sources of evidence, including videos and photographs from locals and surveillance footage, to understand how the Bayesian sank so rapidly, with a suspicion that a hatch left open during the storm could have been a critical oversight.
The shipwreck, lying at a depth of 50 metres in Porticello bay, poses a significant challenge for investigation, with recovery efforts not expected to commence until October. The importance of salvaging the wreck has been underscored by officials, emphasising the potential benefits for the investigation.
Among the deceased were notable individuals, including the yacht’s chef, a high-ranking Morgan Stanley International banker, a Clifford Chance lawyer, and their respective spouses, highlighting the profound loss experienced by the global community.
UK government investigators have also joined the efforts in Sicily, aiming to assist with information gathering that could support insurance claims and legal actions by the victims’ families. Legal experts predict the incident could lead to revised safety protocols for yachts facing storm conditions, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the tragedy in terms of the storm’s suddenness, the yacht’s size, and the rapidity of its sinking.
News Team
