Captain of Sicily Yacht Under Investigation for Negligent Shipwreck and Manslaughter: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

The captain of thesunken Sicily yachtis under investigation afterseven people died in the tragedy, according to multiple news reports.

TheBayesian— a 183-foot-long superyacht — is said to havesunk quickly on Monday, Aug. 19around 5 a.m. local time off the coast of Porticello after what the Italian coast guard called a “violent storm.”

PerCNNandPolitico, the boat’s commander, James Cutfield, 50, of New Zealand, is being investigated for potential negligent shipwreck and manslaughter.

ANSA reported that during the two-hour session on Sunday when the captain was reheard, authorities reconstructed the approximately 32 minutes that passed from when the sailboat began taking on water to the firing of the first distress flare at 4:38 a.m.

Divers recover a body following the sinking.ALESSANDRO FUCARINI/AFP via Getty

ALESSANDRO FUCARINI/AFP via Getty

An Italian criminal lawyer told PEOPLE that being placed under investigation “does not imply guilt (innocent until proven guilty) and does not automatically mean charges will be brought against the person.”

“It does mean that the people under investigation are able to appoint their own medical expert to the autopsies that are taking place their week, a very useful defense measure if they are later formally charged at a later date,” they added.

Local newspaperGiornale di Siciliareported that the commander had been invited to appoint a defense lawyer ahead of the autopsies, which are expected to begin on Monday, Aug. 26 and continue through Thursday, Aug. 29, per the outlet.

A handout photo of the Bayesian.PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The update comes after Sicilian authorities held a press conference on Saturday, Aug. 24 to identify the victims.

Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, confirmed thatBritish tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch’s body had been found on Aug. 22, before the body of his 18-year-old daughterHannah Lynchwas recovered the following day on Aug. 23.

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Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano and the chief of the public prosecutor’s office of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, give a press conference on Aug. 24, 2024 in Termini Imerese, Sicily.ALESSANDRO FUCARINI/AFP via Getty

He also said that on Aug. 22, authorities recovered the bodies of prominent New York City attorneyChristopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda, and Morgan Stanley International chairmanJonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy.

Lynch, 59, wasacquitted of fraud and conspiracy chargesjust two months before the sinking, and a source close to the survivors told PEOPLE passengers on the yacht were celebrating Lynch’s recent acquittal when the storm hit.

Morvillo, also 59, worked on the case, and Bloomer, 70, was a close friend to Lynch. Chef Recaldo Thomas' body was also recovered in the days after the sinking.

source: people.com