Latest case of Mike Lynch superyacht sinking: Captain investigated as funeral services arrive for Hannah Lynch

Italian prosecutors have officially opened an investigation into James Cutfield, the captain of a superyacht owned by British technology mogul Mike Lynch, after the vessel sank off the coast of Sicily last week, killing Lynch and six others, Italian news reports say.

The 51-year-old New Zealander Cutfield is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck, Italian newspapers report. The Republic And The Sera Corriere said.

• Why were the passengers remaining on board the ship not warned against escaping from the yacht?
• Why were there several passengers in one cabin?
• Why did the boat sink?
• Why weren’t nearby ships similarly affected?
• What weather warnings did the Bayesian become aware of?
• How long will it take to salvage the sailing ship?

A court-appointed armed guard tasked with ensuring Mike Lynch did not go into hiding while facing fraud charges paid tribute to the tech mogul, saying the security team had become “less of a solo effort and more like a family.”

Rolo Igno also described “the memory of a beautiful soul” in Lynch’s daughter Hannah.

Mr Igno said he had the “privilege” of spending “almost every waking minute” with Mr Lynch while in custody in San Francisco, describing the deployment as one he had never done before and one that was “life-changing”.

“For a bodyguard, rule number one is simple: never get too close to the client,” he said.

“They are not your friends, they are a customer and the relationship is purely professional. But Mike didn’t take kindly to that and for me that rule was quickly overturned.”

Italian prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio from the nearby town of Termini Imerese said his office had launched an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent ship handling. No specific suspects have yet been named.

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