Italian Prosecutors Investigate Two More Crew Members In Lynch’s Luxury Yacht Sinking

Italian prosecutors are now investigating two more crew members and the captain into the sinking of the British-flagged superyacht Bayesian.

The yacht, owned by British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, capsized and sank on August 19 2024, off the coast of northern Sicily, killing Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, and five others.

Engineer Tim Parker Eaton and sailor Matthew Griffith are the newly accused crew members. According to a legal source, Eaton is charged with neglecting to protect the yacht’s engine room and operating systems, while Griffith, who was on watch duty the night of the incident, left Palermo for Nice, France, late Wednesday.

The yacht’s captain, 51-year-old New Zealander James Cutfield, was already being investigated for manslaughter and culpable shipwreck; he declined to respond to questions from prosecutors earlier this week.

An investigation is underway to determine whether Eaton failed to activate security mechanisms that would automatically close all the yacht’s hatches, potentially preventing the engine room from flooding. The mistake may have resulted in a power outage and the vessel’s quick sinking.

Those under investigation aren’t forced to remain in Italy, but they must choose their legal representatives so that authorities can communicate with them.

Naval experts remain confused about how the Bayesian, a 56-meter yacht developed by Italian luxury yacht manufacturer Perini, sank so quickly. Experts believe that a vessel of this size and type should have survived the storm and not capsized in the manner it did.

Prosecutors from Termini Imerese, near Palermo, are undertaking a thorough investigation that may take some time. They intend to rescue the wreck lying on its right side at a depth of roughly 50 meters (164 feet) and investigate it more closely.

Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio indicated that his team aims to investigate whether the captain, other crew members, or the yacht’s manufacturers are responsible for the tragic incident.

The yacht capsized in a severe pre-dawn storm while anchored off northern Sicily. Surprisingly, another sailboat nearby survived the storm undamaged. A nearby boat rescued fifteen passengers, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares.

Four other crew members not under investigation have already left Palermo, with two heading for Dubai and the other two to Istanbul.

Under Italian law, being under investigation does not imply guilt or guarantee that formal charges will be filed. As the investigation progresses, authorities will investigate whether crew errors or probable structural faults led to the yacht’s sudden sinking.

References: Reuters, Cbs News

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