Prosecutors investigate captain of superyacht that sank off Sicily

ROME — Italian prosecutors are investigating the captain of a superyacht that sank in a storm off Sicily last week, killing seven people, on possible charges including involuntary manslaughter, his lawyer said Monday.

James Cutfield, the 51-year-old New Zealander who was captain of the Bayesian, was among 15 survivors of the August 19 sinking that killed British tech mogul Mike Lynchhis daughter Hannah and five other people.

Cutfield is being investigated for possible involuntary manslaughter and culpable shipwreck, said attorney Aldo Mordiglia, one of two lawyers assigned to defend the captain.

Mordiglia said Cutfield, who has already been questioned, would be questioned again by prosecutors Tuesday. He declined to discuss the defense’s strategy.

Under Italian law, being under investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily lead to criminal charges.

On Saturday, Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed that An investigation has been openedHe said his team would consider every possible element of liability, including that of the captain, crew, those supervising and the yacht’s manufacturer.

The 56-metre British-flagged luxury yacht sank near the southern Italian Mediterranean island, with investigators focusing on how a yacht deemed “unsinkable” by its builder, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a neighbouring yacht remained largely unscathed.

Prosecutors said the event was “extremely fast” and could have been a “downburst” – a localized, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads quickly as it hits the ground.

The crew was saved, except for the captain, while six passengers remained trapped in the hull.