Prosecutors on the Italian island opened an investigation in relation to potential manslaughter offences over the sinking of the Bayesian yacht on Monday, August 19th, which killed British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others.
Captain James Cutfield, a New Zealand national who was one of 15 people who survived the tragedy, was placed under investigation on Tuesday, his lawyer Aldo Mordiglia confirmed to AFP following media reports.
Engineer Tim Parker Eaton, who was in charge of the engine room that night, and a crewman on lookout named as Matthew Griffith were also placed under formal investigation on Wednesday, reports said.
Prosecutors on Saturday said their probe remained at an early stage, but have since declined to formally comment. No one has been charged yet.
Italian media said British national Parker Eaton was accused of not having properly checked that the yacht’s windows were closed and watertight compartments activated.
Lynch, 59, had invited friends and family onto the boat to celebrate his acquittal in a massive US fraud case in June.
But the 56-metre yacht was struck by something akin to a mini-tornado as it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo, and sank within minutes.
The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found shortly afterwards, and six people were reported missing.
Following a major search operation, divers pulled up the bodies of four of Lynch’s friends from the wreck on Wednesday – US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, as well as Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy.
Lynch’s body was recovered on Thursday, August 22nd, and that of his 18-year-old daughter Hannah on Friday.
Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares survived.
The yacht, which had a 75-metre mast, currently lies on its side on the seabed, some 50 metres underwater.
Sicily’s coast guard said on Tuesday it was carrying out checks on the site for potential pollution, but said there was no indication of fuel leaks so far.
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