Captain of Mike Lynch’s yacht 'under investigation for manslaughter'

26 August 2024, 18:32

Seven of the Bayesian superyacht's passengers died in the incident
Seven of the Bayesian superyacht's passengers died in the incident. Picture: Alamy

By Henry Moore

The captain of the superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily last week, killing seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, has been placed under investigation, Italian media reports.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Mr Lynch, his daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Chef Recaldo Thomas, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the Bayesian sank at around 5am on Monday.

Of the 22 passengers and crew aboard the boat, 15 were rescued, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares.

The group were picked up in a life raft by a nearby boat after firing a flare into the night sky.

Captain James Cutfiled, 51, is being investigated for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck over the incident.

Read more: Mike Lynch 'had concerns over killer nurse Lucy Letby's conviction' before billionaire died in Bayesian shipwreck

However, reports in Italy say this investigation does not imply the New Zealand-born captain is guilty.

Prosecutors in Termini Imerese have not commented on the reports, PA claims.

Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed on Saturday that a manslaughter investigation into the sinking had been launched, but did not give any names.

Authorities have said they are now 'investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable manslaughter' after the boat capsized off the coast near Palermo, Sicily, shortly before 5am on Monday.

Italian firefighter divers work at the site of a shipwreck, in Porticello, Sicily, southern Italy, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Divers searching the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian that sank off Sicily on Monday.
Italian firefighter divers work at the site of a shipwreck, in Porticello, Sicily, southern Italy, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Divers searching the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian that sank off Sicily on Monday. Picture: Alamy

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the US. The businessman, who founded the software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion US dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

A decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is "not on the agenda", but will be in the future, a spokesman from the Italian Coastguard has said.

This comes amid reports Mike Lynch 'held concerns about the killer nurse Lucy Letby's conviction' before he died aboard his £30m superyacht last week, a former Tory minister has said.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis said that the late billionaire yacht owner was considering funding a British "Innocence Project" to look at the baby killer's case.

Letby, 34, was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court for murdering seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neo-natal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

The superyacht is believed to have sunk at around 5am on Monday.
The superyacht is believed to have sunk at around 5am on Monday. Picture: Getty

She has received 15 whole life orders following her convictions at Manchester Crown Court.

Mr Davis said Mr Lynch believed the prosecution case against Letby was weak in an interview with the Sunday Times.

Writing in the newspaper, the Tory bigwig said: "He raised the case of the Lucy Letby trial as one that had already caught his attention.

"Mike was a world-class expert on probability theory, and saw straight through the statistical weaknesses that underpinned the Letby prosecution."

Paying tribute to the late Mr Lynch, Mr Davis said: "The tragic death of Mike Lynch marks the end of an incredible life and the loss of a man whose name became synonymous with battling the injustices of the UK-US extradition treaty."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Keiron Charles

Two teenage boys charged with murder after 17-year-old boy stabbed to death in west London

John's loveable character Charlie kicked off a whirlwind romance with Rovers Return landlady Bet Gilroy (played by Julie Goodyear)

Coronation Street star's sudden death at 72 - as family pay tribute to 'gentleman' actor

LBC News launches new weekday schedule with new presenter line-up

LBC News launches new weekday schedule with new presenter line-up

Heidi Alexander has said that smoking crack cocaine on the Tube is 'unacceptable'

'Smoking crack cocaine on the Tube is unacceptable', Transport Secretary says as shocking images surface

David Beckham & LA Galaxy Visits Shanghai

David Beckham's former bodyguard Craig Ainsworth found dead in Spain following hunt for war veteran

The FTSE tumbled on Monday morning

FTSE drops again on opening after Trump refuses to back down on tariffs, with global markets in turmoil

Exclusive
Google search for UK jobs.

Job postings down nearly a quarter amid fears over Employer National Insurance rise

A construction worker in the new Silvertown Tunnel in east London. The first new road crossing east of London's Tower Bridge in 33 years opens on Monday.

Long-awaited Silvertown Tunnel opens to drivers in London

Exclusive
Starmer To Abolish NHS England In Bid To Reform National Health Service

Patients suffering in the back of ambulance soars under Labour - with 1,000 per week are put in potentially serious harm

National Gallery to let one person sleep overnight in ‘first’ as section reopens

National Gallery to allow individual sleepovers marking historic ‘first’ ahead of 200th anniversary

File photo dated 15/08/14

NHS staff harassed by members of public filming them with phones and threatening to post footage online

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Hosts Mia Mottley, Prime Minister Of Barbados

Starmer to relax rules over electric car sales as government pledges 'bold action' in wake of Trump tariffs

A police cordon in Elm Street, South Moor, Stanley, County Durham

Two arrests made after man in 50s shot dead in broad daylight in County Durham

Craig Revel Horwood

Craig Revel Horwood takes aim at fellow Strictly Come Dancing judges

Molly-Mae shared a sweet family snap of Tommy Fury and daughter Bambi

Is Molly-Mae back with Tommy Fury? Fans go wild over family photo fuelling reunion rumours

b

Mum of murdered teen Brianna Ghey considers mother of daughter's killer 'a friend' in amazing show of compassion