The captain and engineer of the luxury yacht owned by British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch’s family are reportedly under investigation by Italian authorities following the vessel’s tragic sinking off the coast of Sicily, which resulted in the deaths of Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, and five others, CBS News reports.
Both the yacht’s engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, and the captain, James Cutler, have been placed under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck, according to reports from Reuters and ANSA. Cutler’s legal counsel has confirmed his status in the inquiry. Following several days of meetings with prosecutors, the 51-year-old New Zealander Cutler has opted to remain silent in the proceedings.
“The captain exercised his right to remain silent for two fundamental reasons,” said attorney Giovanni Rizzuti. “First, he’s very worn out. Second, we were appointed only on Monday, and for a thorough and correct defense case, we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don’t have.”
Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah, were among the victims who perished when the superyacht sank. The incident raised alarm as another nearby sailboat weathered the storm without sustaining damage. Fifteen peoople, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, managed to escape to a life raft and were rescued by a passing vessel.
Reports from Italian media have suggested that investigators are examining whether Eaton failed to activate crucial security systems intended to automatically close all vessel hatches. This potential oversight may have allowed the engine room to flood, possibly leading to a power outage and the subsequent rapid flooding of the entire yacht.
Under Italian law, being placed under investigation does not necessarily indicate that formal charges will be filed. In a press conference held on Saturday, prosecutors noted that salvaging the wreck of the Bayesian from its current resting place at a depth of some 160 feet would be essential for the investigation.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio stated that the investigation would focus on determining whether the captain, other crew members, or the yacht’s manufacturers hold any responsibility for the disaster.
