Two British crew members of the Bayesian superyacht, which sank off Sicily last week, are now under investigation by the local prosecutor’s office. The crew members, Tim Parker Eaton, who managed the engine room, and Matthew Griffith, the lookout on duty at the time of the incident, are being scrutinized following the tragic sinking that resulted in the deaths of seven people.
Authorities have been actively searching the crew’s quarters and have confiscated at least two phones as part of the investigation. It is important to note that being under investigation does not necessarily imply guilt or lead to formal charges.
The investigation follows a decision by the yacht’s captain, James Cutfield, from New Zealand, to refrain from answering prosecutors’ questions. Cutfield, 51, is under investigation for potential manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges. During his third interrogation by Sicilian prosecutors in Termini Imerese on Tuesday, Cutfield chose to remain silent. His lawyer, Aldo Mordiglia, indicated that the captain’s legal team, recently appointed, is still formulating a defense strategy.
The sinking occurred last Monday, with fifteen survivors, including almost all of the crew. Among the seven victims were British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. The deceased also included the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, and passengers Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, as well as Chris and Neda Morvillo, who were found trapped within the hull.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, overseeing the investigation, emphasized that the inquiry will examine all aspects of responsibility, including those of the captain, the crew, supervisory figures, and the yacht’s manufacturer. Preliminary assessments suggest that the sinking was “extremely rapid” and may have been caused by a “downburst,” a sudden and intense wind phenomenon associated with thunderstorms.