Captain of Lynch yacht investigated for manslaughter in Sicily shipping accident – ​​Firstpost

The captain of the luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last week is being investigated for possible manslaughter, reports said on Monday.

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was one of 15 people who survived the sinking of the Bayesian, which killed seven people, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter.

Prosecutors on the Italian island announced on Saturday that they were launching an investigation into negligent shiphandling and manslaughter in connection with the sinking of the yacht in a pre-dawn storm on August 19.

They did not name any suspects and stressed that the investigation was still at an early stage. The prosecutor's office did not respond to AFP's requests for comment on Monday.

Lynch, a 59-year-old British technology entrepreneur and investor, had invited friends and family onto the boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a massive U.S. fraud trial.

But the 56-metre (185-foot) yacht was hit by what resembled a mini-tornado while anchored off Porticello, near Palermo.

The body of the yacht's cook was found shortly afterwards and six people – including the businessman and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah – were reported missing.

After a major search, divers recovered the bodies of four of Lynch's friends on Wednesday, those of Lynch himself on Thursday, and finally those of Hannah on Friday.

The yacht is currently lying on its side on the seabed, about 50 meters deep.

All six bodies were found in the cabins closest to the surface, five in one and Hannah's body in another. Officials said they likely got there while trying to find air pockets.