Italian prosecutors have placed the captain of the superyacht Bayesian under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck following the vessel’s tragic sinking off Sicily last week, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch.
Captain James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is being investigated after being interrogated for a second time, according to a judicial source. The investigation does not imply guilt, and formal charges may not necessarily follow.
The Bayesian, a 56-meter-long British-flagged yacht, capsized and sank on August 21 after being hit by a sudden storm while anchored off northern Sicily. Fifteen people survived, including Lynch’s wife, who owned the yacht. However, Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was among those who lost their lives.
Prosecutors are exploring possible crimes of multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence. Maritime law holds the captain fully responsible for the ship, crew, and all on board.
The investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether other crew members or individuals will also be placed under investigation.
