Italian authorities are ‘investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable manslaughter’ after the super-yacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily, 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.
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.
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.