‘Manslaughter’ probe launched over Bayesian disaster as cops scour CCTV & review decisions of captain & ‘first officer’
ITALIAN authorities are reportedly probing charges of multiple culpable homicide after doomed super-yacht Bayesian capsized off the coast of Sicily.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Termini Imerese, led by Ambrogio Cartosio, is working to find out why the luxury vessel sank off the coast of Porticello near Palermo shortly before 5am on Monday.
It is investigating offences of shipwreck and multiple culpable homicide – similar to the charge of manslaughter in the UK – against unknown persons, according to Italian media.
Cops have been scouring videos and photographs taken on the night of the storm by locals, as well as CCTV footage of the port, according to local reports.
Italian outlet Palermo Today said coastguard officials have visited all of the homes and public places with surveillance cameras pointed out to sea in the area.
The Prosecutor’s Office are also reviewing the actions and decisions made by the Bayesian’s Captain James Cutfield, 51, and Matthew Griffith, 22, who is understood to be the first officer, according to local newspaper Palermo Today.
Out of 22 onboard the luxury vessel, 15 survived and six have been confirmed dead so far with one still missing.
Captain Cutfield has already been quizzed by local police for more than two hours this week.
And investigators are also analysing the boat’s Automatic Identification System (AIS), essentially its black box, to work out what exactly happened as it sank.
It comes as rescue workers continue to search for the last missing person – Brit teen Hannah Lynch – on board the yacht.
The Italian Coastguard says it is confident there will be significant progress in the search today.
Asked if any developments are expected, spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola replied: “We trust”.
It comes as…
- Five bodies were recovered from the yacht wreck including Brit tycoon Mike Lynch
- The CEO of the firm that produced the Bayesian said the boat is ‘unsinkable’ and pointed to human error
- Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah, 18, presumed missing as search for her continues
- Captain James Cutfield was quizzed for two hours by cops and remains at the centre of a probe
- Experts believe the yacht’s ‘tallest mast in the world‘ may have contributed to the disaster after a freak ‘Black Swan’ weather event struck
- Pictures showed the tiny raft that saved up to 15 people
- Frantic text messages from the survivors revealed the chaos
Four bodies were recovered by specialist divers on Wednesday, with a fifth brought into the harbour on Thursday.
The vessel’s chef Recaldo Thomas was found dead in the water soon after the boat capsized on Monday.
The five found on the boat were identified as British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer and wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda.
The body of Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who received her A-Level results last week, is yet to be found by divers.
Eight of the specialist divers searching for the missing student are understood to be using a Nitrox air mix in their tanks – which is made up of more Oxygen and less nitrogen, according to Italian newspaper Rai News.
This reduces the risk of decompression sickness and allows them to dive deeper and for longer periods of time.
Giovanni Costantino, CEO of Italian Sea Group which owns Bayesian-maker Perini Navi shipyard, has blamed human error for the tragedy.
He told The Sun: “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.
“However, if the ship takes on water, this stability is compromised.
“Where the water entered will be determined by the investigators.
“What is certain is that the ship took on hundreds of thousands of litres of water.”