Captain of Bayesian superyacht ‘under official investigation for manslaughter’ after tragic sinking left seven dead
ITALIAN prosecutors have reportedly opened a manslaughter probe into the captain of the Bayesian superyacht over the deaths of seven individuals on board.
James Cutfield, 51, from New Zealand, is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera mentioned.
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New Zealand citizen James Cutfield, 51, was the captain of the Bayesian
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The Bayesian (pictured) capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily in unhealthy climateCredit score: EPA
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CCTV confirmed the Bayesian superyacht moments earlier than it sank
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Divers spent a number of days recovering our bodiesCredit score: PA
Magistrates reportedly spoke to Cutfield on Sunday for the second time in every week – questioning him for greater than two hours.
Prosecutors might also examine a crew member who was on responsibility when the storm hit and survived the catastrophe, in line with stories.
The 184ft Bayesian was carrying 22 individuals when it capsized and sank final Monday inside minutes of being hit by a storm whereas anchored off northern Sicily.
Brit tech tycoon Mike Lynch and 4 others had been discovered dead within the first cabin of the posh yacht’s left aspect.
Learn extra on the Bayesian
Mr Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was discovered within the third cabin after it sank stern-first earlier than rolling on to its proper on the seabed. The yacht’s chef additionally died.
Fifteen of the 22 on board, together with Mr Lynch’s spouse Angela Bacares, 57, escaped on a life raft.
Prosecutors mentioned the victims had tried to scramble to 1 aspect of the doomed £14million, 184ft vessel in a determined battle to succeed in air pockets after it went down in a storm off Sicily.
Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio mentioned the victims would have been asleep when the freak climate struck at round 5am native time on Monday final week, leaving them unable to flee.
Being positioned beneath investigation in Italy doesn’t indicate guilt – and doesn’t imply formal expenses will essentially observe.
Maritime regulation offers a captain full accountability for the ship and the crew, in addition to the security of all aboard.
Discovering Bayesian superyacht our bodies is sort of a ‘horror film’ for divers, some could by no means dive once more
Cutfield and his eight surviving crew have made no public remark but on the catastrophe.
In a press convention on Saturday, Mr Cartosio mentioned there could have been “behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility everybody had”.
He added: “There could be in fact the question of homicide. But this is the beginning of the inquiry, we cannot exclude anything at all.”
He mentioned one line of inquiry was whether or not the crew tried to lift the alarm with passengers earlier than getting on the lifeboat and escaping.
He vowed to “discover how much they (the crew) knew and to what extent all the people (passengers) were warned.”
He mentioned: “We will establish each element’s (crew) responsibility. For me, it is probable that offences were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter.”
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Mike Lynch, the tech tycoon who died within the sinkingCredit score: Yui Mok/PA Wire
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Mr Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was additionally unable to flee
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He mentioned Captain Cutfield had been “extremely cooperative” throughout questioning and will probably be quizzed additional.
Lead prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano mentioned Italy’s Air Power discovered the boat was sunk by a downburst that descended from a thunderstorm.
He mentioned there have been forecasts of sturdy winds and a storm alert however good visibility and no suggestion of a twister.
He added: “Given the conditions were such, there wasn’t anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation.
“There are vessels that can monitor these events and one would have thought the captain had taken precautions.”
He mentioned one particular person was on watch within the cockpit on the time of the accident.
Bentivoglio Fiandra, chief of Palermo’s hearth brigade and half of the rescue, mentioned the victims “were trying to hide in the cabins on the left-hand side” the place the final air pockets remained.
Divers made greater than 120 journeys in 5 days to the wrecked boat 164ft under the floor, with mirrors within the cabins making their robust job tougher as a result of their lights had been mirrored again at them.
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Vincenzo Nardoni, inspector on the Division of Fireplace Fighters’ Divers in Naples, mentioned: “Inside it was a very confusing place, with wardrobes and furniture whirling all around us, and lots of mirrors reflecting back our lights at us.
“The bodies were all wedged in tight spots, with furniture on top or beside them. They were all stuck there.”
Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which manufactured Perini Navi shipyard vessel Bayesian, accused the crew of failing to “close the doors and hatches” and insisted the boat ought to have been “unsinkable”.
Mr Costantino just lately informed The Solar: “Modern sailing ships, especially high-tech ones like the Perini, are designed to be extremely safe and stable.
“Even in very critical conditions, if procedures are followed, a sailing yacht like the Bayesian will return to an upright position.
“If the ship takes on water, this stability is compromised … What is for certain is that the ship took on tons of of 1000’s of litres of water.”
Authorities now face a delicate task in extracting the wreck from the depths of the sea – intact – so that it can be properly probed.
Expert diver Bertrand Sciboz said it would be a “very particular operation”.
He told BBC on Saturday: “They’ll have to salvage the wreck intact to then send it back to authorities and police.
“They will need to salvage the boat intact but I suppose they will have to take off the mast before.
“First, put the boat on its keel and then take off the mast.”
Bayesian thriller: the unanswered questions
PROSECUTORS have launched a significant probe into whether or not the Bayesian crew observe the fitting procedures earlier than it tragically sank.
With the investigation underway now that our bodies have been recovered, these are the important thing factors that stay shrouded in thriller.
Why did it sink whereas different boats withstood the storm?
Survivors had been saved by crew of Dutch boat Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was moored proper close to the Bayesian.
The 42-metre boat remained anchored after its skipper turned on the engine, additionally avoiding a collision with the doomed British-flagged vessel.
Captain Karsten Borner mentioned the Bayesian crew had been doubtless “surprised” by the storm’s prowess.
Have been correct security precautions adopted?
In mild of the climate warning issued by the coast guard, questions have been raised over whether or not yacht company had been woken up and given life jackets.
On Saturday, prosecutors mentioned those that died had been doubtless asleep when the storm hit.
This meant they could not escape because the boat quickly sank, investigators consider.
Was the Bayesian correctly anchored?
The anchor being lowered to 50 metres has sparked questions over whether or not the yacht ought to have been secured in shallower water.
Retired Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe additionally mentioned the Bayesian is designed for an enormous sail – and with out the sail raised, the fierce gusts would’ve rocked the boat’s aluminium pole.
He informed CBC Information: “My kind of working assumption is that she was probably a bit further in at anchor, and it’s very likely, in these sort of conditions, that her anchor dragged.”
Have been hatches left open?
It entry hatches had been left open earlier than the storm struck, it is believed the yacht would’ve shortly full of water as soon as it tipped, inflicting the swift sinking.
An skilled on the scene informed Reuters that one of the earliest goals for investigators was to ascertain whether or not the crew didn’t shut entry hatches earlier than catastrophe struck.
With temperatures above 33 levels, they might have been left open for air circulation.
Sam Jefferson mentioned: “I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.”
How lengthy will the investigation take?
Sicilian prosecutors would not be drawn on giving a timeline for the investigation on Saturday.
With the wreck at 50 metres under the ocean floor, they warned it could take a while.
Autopsies are additionally but to be finished.
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Divers soar in earlier than descending to the wreckCredit score: AFP PHOTO / VIGILI DEL FUOCO / HANDOUT
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Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio talking at a press convention on Saturday
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Rescue groups scour the seasCredit score: AFP
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The Bayesian (left) sports activities a proud stance earlier than the catastropheCredit score: Fabio La Bianca/PA Wire