Captain of Doomed Superyacht Gives Investigators the Cold Shoulder
The captain of a superyacht, James Cutfield, is under investigation for potential manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges following the sinking of the yacht off the coast of Sicily, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his daughter. During his recent questioning by prosecutors, Cutfield chose to remain silent, as his legal team prepares a defense strategy. The investigation is looking into the circumstances of the yacht’s sinking, particularly why a vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer went down during a storm while other nearby vessels remained safe. Key considerations will include the responsibilities of the captain, crew members, supervisors, and the yacht’s manufacturer.
The captain of a superyacht that sank during a storm off Sicily last week, killing seven people, decided not to respond to prosecutors’ questions on Tuesday, his lawyer said.
James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges and was questioned for the third time by the Termini Imerese prosecutors on Tuesday.
“He just exercised his right to remain silent, probably prosecutors were expecting that,” lawyer Aldo Mordiglia told The Associated Press, adding that the captain’s legal team has just been named and needs time to work on his defensive strategy.
Cutfield was among 15 survivors of the August 19th sinking that killed British tech magnate Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah and five others.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, who is heading the investigation, has said his team would consider each possible element of responsibility including those of the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision and the yacht’s manufacturer.
The Bayesian, a 184-foot British-flagged luxury yacht, went down near the Mediterranean island in southern Italy. Investigators are focusing on how a sailing vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.
Prosecutors said the event was “extremely rapid” and could have been a “downburst” — a localized, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.
The crew was saved, except for the chef, while six passengers were trapped in the hull.
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