Public prosecutor investigates captain of superyacht that sank off Sicily

ROME (AP) — Italian prosecutors are investigating the captain of a superyacht that sank during a storm off the coast of Sicily last week, killing seven people. He faces charges including manslaughter, his lawyer said Monday.

James Cutfield, the 51-year-old New Zealander and captain of the Bayesian, was one of the 15 survivors of the sinking on August 19, in which 200,000 people lost their lives. British technology magnate Mike Lynchhis daughter Hannah and five others.

Cutfield is being investigated for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck, said attorney Aldo Mordiglia, one of two lawyers appointed to defend the captain.

Mordiglia said Cutfield, who has already been questioned, will be questioned again by prosecutors on Tuesday. He declined to discuss the defense’s strategy.

Under Italian law, an investigation against a person is not proof of his guilt and does not necessarily lead to an indictment.

On Saturday, Attorney General Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed that an investigation has been launchedHe said his team would consider every possible element of responsibility, including that of the captain, crew, supervisors and the yacht’s manufacturer.

The 56-metre British-flagged luxury yacht sank near the Mediterranean island in southern Italy. Investigators are focusing on how a sailing vessel classified as “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Prosecutors said the event occurred “extremely quickly” and may have been a “downburst” – a localized, strong wind that originates from a thunderstorm and spreads rapidly after hitting the ground.

The crew except for the cook were rescued, while six passengers were trapped in the hull.