BREAKING NEWS Manslaughter probe is launched over sinking of Bayesian superyacht after at least six people died including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch when vessel capsized off the coast of Sicily By Nick Craven In Sicily and Jon Brady Published: 09:53 BST, 23 August 2024 | Updated: 10:12 BST, 23 August 2024 e-mail 19 shares View comments Italian authorities are 'investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable manslaughter' after the super-yacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily, killing at least six, it emerged today. The Prosecutor's Office of Termini Imerese, led by Ambrogio Cartosio, is investigating why the luxury vessel capsized off the coast near Palermo shortly before 5am on Monday. The investigators are looking into offences of 'shipwreck and multiple culpable homicide' - similar to the charge of manslaughter in the UK - against 'unknown persons', according to Italian media.
A press conference has been announced for tomorrow morning by the prosecutors' office, at which more details are expected to be revealed. Causing a shipwreck is a separate offence under the Italian penal code and those found guilty of provoking or causing a shipwreck could face up to 12 years in prison. Search teams at the site of the Bayesian sinking this morning as they prepare to continue looking for the final missing person, Hannah Lynch The Bayesian yacht sank on August 19 off the coast of Sicily amid severe stormy weather Banking boss Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy died in the disaster (left).
Tech boss Mike Lynch (right), who had just been cleared of fraud charges in the US, also died Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also aboard the ship The body of chef Recaldo Thomas (pictured) was discovered on the day of the sinking The body of the boat's chef was found shortly after it sank - five other bodies have since been discovered (pictured: rescue workers stage a dry run of equipment) Investigators have been examining videos and photographs taken on the night of the storm showing the last minutes of the ship, as well as CCTV footage of the port. Italian news website 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 Palermo Today.
Read More Superyacht victims 'may have been trying to escape incoming water as vessel sank after being found on opposite side to their cabins', sources say - as search continues for missing Hannah It has been reported that Mr Cutfield was quizzed 'at length' for at least two hours by the prosecution team. It comes as rescue workers continue to search for the last missing person - Brit teen Hannah Lynch - on board the yacht. The vessel's chef Recaldo Thomas was found dead in the water soon after the boat capsized on Monday.
Four bodies were recovered by specialist divers on Wednesday, with a fifth brought into the harbour on Thursday. They have been identified as British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda. The prosecutor is expected to order post-mortem examinations soon on the bodies so far recovered.
The Italian Coastguard 'trusts' there will be significant progress in the search for 18-year-old Hannah today. Asked if any developments are expected on Friday, Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, replied: 'We trust.' Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 - including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares - were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.
The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the US. The Bayesian's captain, James Cutfield (pictured) has been questioned by officials carrying out an investigation into the tragedy A coastguard boat sits on the water close to the sinking site off the coast of Sicily this morning Italian fire service divers speak on a rescue boat this morning as they prepare to resume searches for Hannah Lynch The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.
Mr Zagarola previously said a decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is 'not on the agenda', but will be in the future. Giovanni Costantino, chief executive of the firm that built the yacht, told The Times it was 'absurd' that passengers on the yacht were in their cabins. Read More Bayesian shipbuilder claims crew had '16 MINUTES' to warn passengers as superyacht 'dragged its anchor' before sinking - as animated map shows nearby boat following similar course He told the newspaper: 'Why were (they) in their cabins? 'Local fishermen saw the storm was coming, why did no-one on board the Bayesian realise? 'From 3.
50am, the captain had four minutes to get the passengers out of their cabins.' He continued: 'They should have jettisoned the anchor, started the engine, pointed the bows to the wind and put the keel down. 'If they had done that, no-one on board would have been afraid, they would have been back to bed in an hour and ready to push on with their voyage.
' Tributes have been paid to those who died in the disaster, with some describing Mr Lynch as a 'visionary unlike any other'. Eleanor Lightbody, the chief executive of the legal AI company he founded called Luminance, said: 'He had a unique ability to spot the next technological revolution and solve tomorrow's challenges before others even knew they were coming. 'Above all, Mike was a kind man who had an impact on many and will be sorely missed.
I feel honoured to have known him, worked with him and learnt from him over the years.' In a statement confirming their parents' deaths, the Bloomer family described the couple as 'incredible people and an inspiration to many'. They said: 'Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.
'Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.' A helicopter, remotely controlled underwater vehicles, naval units and cave divers have been used in the search. Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank as the area was hit by a storm.
The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres (164ft). Share or comment on this article: Manslaughter probe is launched over sinking of Bayesian superyacht after at least six people died including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch when vessel capsized off the coast of Sicily e-mail 19 shares Add comment.
