Prosecutors in Italy are investigating potential manslaughter charges relating to the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian as a body believed to be Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was recovered. The Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning when the area was hit by violent storms. Seven people, including the British tech entrepreneur Mr Lynch, were killed.
After five days of searching, the body of Hannah, the sixth and final person missing from the luxury yacht, was recovered on Friday afternoon , according to the Italian coastguard. The Press Association news agency reported a green body bag was seen being brought to Porticello from the site of the sinking at just before 1pm local time. The public prosecutor of Termini Imerese is investigating charges of shipwreck, disaster and multiple homicides over the sinking, according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.
The specific charge of provoking or causing a shipwreck can carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years. Mr Lynch, 59, the founder of Autonomy Corporation, had been celebrating his acquittal on fraud charges in the US when the 56-metre sailing boat capsized at about 5am local time on Monday. Adnkronos also reported that investigators believed that the ship sank bow first, and then slowly capsized onto its right side.
Adnkronos said sources in the authorities involved in the recovery operations said the victims were reportedly found outside their cabins. “The passengers sought escape rout.