Italian prosecutors have launched an official investigation into James Cutfield, the captain of a superyacht owned by British tech magnate Mike Lynch, which sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm last week.
Investigated for Manslaughter
The incident resulted in the deaths of Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, and five others.
According to Ziare James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand citizen, is being investigated for manslaughter and negligence leading to a shipwreck, according to Italian news outlets La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera.
Under Italian law, being placed under investigation does not imply guilt or necessarily lead to formal charges.
The tragedy occurred when the 56-meter yacht, named Bayesian, capsized during a sudden and severe storm near Porticello, close to Palermo.
Full Responsibility on the Captain
Despite the extreme weather conditions, the head prosecutor in Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, indicated that multiple counts of manslaughter and negligence could have been committed, given the circumstances of the ship's sinking.
Maritime law places full responsibility for the vessel and the safety of those onboard on the captain, making Cutfield the central figure in the ongoing investigation. Neither Cutfield nor the eight surviving crew members have made any public statements about the disaster.
Fifteen people, including Lynch’s wife, survived the tragedy. However, the loss of Lynch and his daughter has sent shockwaves through the tech industry and beyond. Lynch was well-known for his company, Autonomy Corporation, and his contributions to the development of Bayesian algorithms.
