Captain James Cutfield of the Bayesian superyacht is under investigation for allegations of manslaughter and shipwreck. He has been questioned for several hours on a second occasion concerning the tragedy that resulted in seven fatalities.
Prosecutors in Italy have commenced a formal investigation into Captain James Cutfield of the £30 million Bayesian superyacht, which sank off Sicily last week, resulting in the deaths of British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, his daughter, and five others. Captain Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, faces allegations of manslaughter and shipwreck, as reported by Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera.
Magistrates have interrogated Cutfield for the second time within a week, questioning him for over two hours. Additionally, prosecutors may extend their investigation to a crew member who was on duty during the storm and survived the incident.
In Italy, being placed under investigation does not imply guilt or guarantee that formal charges will be filed. The investigation pertains to the tragic sinking of the British-flagged pleasure yacht, which resulted in the deaths of six passengers, including British tech billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, as well as chef Recaldo Thomas. The yacht capsized and settled on its side 164 feet below the surface early last Monday.
In Porticello, a Sicilian fishing community, hundreds gathered for a candle-lit vigil in honor of the victims. Additionally, a former marine who had guarded Mr. Lynch during his house arrest described the experience as ‘life-changing.’ Preliminary findings suggest that a weather phenomenon known as a down-burst—characterized by a sudden, intense downward burst of wind that spreads outward upon hitting the ground, often associated with thunderstorms and sometimes mistaken for tornadoes—may have contributed to the incident.
