Friday, December 6, 2024

Latest on Mike Lynch’s yacht sinking: Captain refuses to answer questions as two crew members face investigation

Date:

Fire chief reveals final moments of seven who died in Bayesian tragedy

Two more crew members of the luxury yacht “Baiziane” are under investigation for manslaughter after seven people died when the vessel sank off the coast of Sicily.

It comes as the boat’s captain exercised his “right to remain silent” as he faced further questioning by Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of billionaire Mike Lynch’s luxury yacht, his lawyer said.

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is being investigated for manslaughter and causing a shipwreck, and was questioned for a third time by prosecutors in Termini Imerese on Tuesday.

“The captain has exercised his right to remain silent for two fundamental reasons,” lawyer Giovanni Rizzotti told reporters. “First, he is very tired. Second, we were only appointed on Monday, and in order to be able to present a comprehensive and correct defense, we need to have access to a set of data that we do not have at the moment.”

Placing an accused under investigation does not mean that he or she has been convicted, nor does it necessarily mean that formal charges have been brought against him or her. It remains unclear whether other individuals will be placed under investigation.

This comes amid tributes to the owner of the British-flagged ship, Mike Lynch, and his daughter Hannah Lynch, Morgan Stanley Chairman Jonathan Plummer and his wife Judith Plummer, and Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Nida Morvillo, who all died in the disaster.

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How Mike Lynch’s Inner Circle Celebrated the End of the Billionaire’s 13-Year Court Battle

British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those initially unidentified after his luxury yacht, the Paisian, sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning.

Read the full article here:

Holly EvansAugust 28, 2024 12:50

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Read the full story: Two more crew members under investigation

Two other crew members of the Bayzian are being investigated for manslaughter, including the ship’s engineer and a sailor.

Tim Parker Easton is suspected of failing to protect the yacht’s engine room and operating systems, while Matthew Griffiths was on watch duty on the night of the incident, a source said.

Read the full article by Tara Cobham here:

Holly EvansAugust 28, 2024 12:34

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The investigation will take into account every possible element.

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, who is heading the investigation, said his team would examine every possible element of liability including those borne by the captain, the crew, individuals responsible for supervision and the yacht’s manufacturer.

The legal team also said its investigation would take time and require the wreckage of the Bayezid yacht to be recovered from the sea. It is currently lying on its starboard side, at a depth of about 50 metres (164 feet).

Holly EvansAugust 28, 2024 12:20

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Two more Bayesian crew members under investigation

Two more crew members of the luxury yacht “Baizian” are under investigation for manslaughter after seven people were killed when the luxury yacht sank in a storm off Sicily last week.

Italian prosecutors are investigating two other crew members in connection with the sinking of the ship, along with its captain, after the British-flagged Albizia capsized on August 19 while anchored off northern Sicily, a judicial source said on Wednesday.

Ship engineer Tim Parker-Eaton and seaman Matthew Griffiths are also under investigation for the same offences. The source said Parker-Eaton is suspected of failing to protect the yacht’s engine room and operating systems, while Griffiths was on watch duty on the night of the incident.

An investigation does not mean a conviction, nor does it necessarily mean formal charges.

Emergency workers at the site of the sinking of the Bayzi.
Emergency workers at the site of the sinking of the Bayzi. (All rights reserved to the Associated Press 2024)

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Coverage paused

Good evening, that’s all for today’s coverage.

Alex RossAugust 27, 2024 20:30

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What happened when the boat started sinking?

The ship “Bayzian” sent its last signal before sinking via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) at 0206 GMT, according to the Marine Traffic website.

A red signal was fired into the sky to alert rescue services of the emergency at 0238 GMT, more than 30 minutes after the boat sank, prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said.

The boat sank from the stern and was lying on its starboard side at a depth of about 50 metres (164 feet), said Palermo fire brigade chief Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra.

He added that the bodies of the dead were found in the cabins on the left side of the boat, where passengers may have tried to search for remaining air bubbles.

Prosecutor Cammarano said the passengers were all likely asleep during the storm, which is why they failed to escape.

Alex RossAugust 27, 2024 20:00

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Captain Bayezid’s Legal Team

The yacht’s captain, James Cutfield, has been asked to appoint a lawyer after being questioned by Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of the yacht on Sunday.

The 51-year-old has been placed under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, according to his lawyer, Aldo Mordiglia.

Mr Mordiglia is one of two lawyers representing the New Zealander. The other is lawyer Giovanni Rizzotti of Palermo.

Italian media reports said Mr Mordiglia, from Genoa, specialises in maritime and international law.

Alex RossAugust 27, 2024 19:00

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Captain Al-Bayzi’s lawyer says he ‘exercised the right to remain silent’ in his interrogation in the manslaughter case

captain Bayesian His lawyer said his client chose not to answer prosecutors’ questions when he was spoken to for a third time on Tuesday.

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is under investigation for manslaughter and causing a shipwreck.

Being placed under investigation does not necessarily mean that a person has been convicted or charged. Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said his team would examine every possible element of liability, including those of the captain, the crew, the individuals responsible for supervision and the yacht’s manufacturer.

The Times A lawyer for Mr. Catfield said the captain was “understandably very upset” after Monday’s ordeal.

Giselda Vagnoni More in this report:

Andy GregoryAugust 27, 2024 18:17

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Who was on Bayesian?

The sinking of the Baysian off the coast of Sicily has made headlines around the world, with interest heightened when it was revealed that British tech mogul Mike Lynch was among those on board.

It turned out that the cruise was a celebration by Mr. Lynch with friends, colleagues and his legal team after winning a decade-long legal battle.

Here’s who was on board the ship during the tragedy:

Alex RossAugust 27, 2024 18:00

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Why did the Bayesian sink?

Leaving doors and hatches open all night on the luxury yacht “Baizian” may have caused it to sink in Italy, a sailing expert has said.

Sam Jefferson, editor of Sailing Today magazine, believes the ship’s massive mast also likely contributed to the fatal accident.

“I would say the boat was hit hard by the wind and flipped on its side,” Jefferson told the Palestinian news agency.

“I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough holes and doors open that it would have filled with water very quickly and sunk like that.

The reason it was so firmly fixed was because the mast was so massive.

“It was like a sail. It pushed the boat hard on its side.

“The boat filled with water before she could get back.

“This is all just speculation, but it’s the only logical explanation.”

Alex RossAugust 27, 2024 17:00

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