Yacht captain under investigation for manslaughter following fatal capsize incident in Sicily, utilizing Bayesian methodology.
James Cutfield, 51, served as captain on the 56-meter (184-foot) sailing vessel during its unfortunate capsizing during a fierce storm last Monday. This terrible incident led to the tragic loss of six individuals, such as British tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. It is believed that the ship's chef, Recaldo Thomas, also perished in the incident.
Among the other casualties were Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Bloomer, esteemed American attorney Chris Morvillo, and their respective wives - Judy Bloomer and Neda Morvillo. Chris Morvillo, an associate at Clifford Chance, played a crucial role in the dismissal of the fraud charges against Lynch in June.
Surviving the sinking were Cutfield, along with 14 other individuals, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares.
A weather event known as a waterspout, one of many tornado types, is suspected to have played a role in capsizing the yacht. However, Italian authorities are currently conducting an investigation to examine the actions of the crew and their handling of the vessel to determine their potential involvement in the catastrophic sinking.
As of now, Cutfield remains in Italy at the request of prosecutors due to the ongoing investigation.
According to a prosecutor, the victims were most likely asleep during the storm, thereby limiting their ability to escape. On the weekend, it was revealed that five deceased individuals were found in the same room of the ship, possibly searching for an air pocket as the ship sank.
The investigation into the exact circumstances of the sinking is ongoing, with uncertainties such as the presence of a black box onboard the ship and the possibility of some hatches being left ajar. The salvage team is anticipated to retrieve the Bayesian (named after the statistical theory Lynch built his fortune upon) within the coming weeks.
Once salvaged, Italian law dictates that the responsibility for covering the costs of raising and repairing the ship falls upon the ship's owner, in this case, Bacares' company. They will subsequently locate a salvage company and hand over the salvaged vessel to Italian authorities for further investigation.
Upon the ship's recovery, investigators will examine the status of the hatches during the storm. Italian prosecutors have also taken it upon themselves to look into whether the ship's chief mate was present on the bridge when the ship sank and if any warning was issued to the passengers about the impending danger.
The capsized vessel was sailing through European waters before the tragic incident. Despite the loss of several lives from various parts of the world, including Europe, the investigation aims to uncover the truth about the ship's fate.
