The captain of a yacht in Sicily is facing accusations of the death of 7 people
27 august 2024 в 20:37
The captain of the luxurious yacht «Bayesian», which sank off the coast of Sicily last week, is now facing possible charges, including manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, the Italian prosecutor said on Monday.
James Catfield, a 51-year-old citizen of New Zealand, was the head of the crew on the 184-foot superyacht when it capsized after being caught in a whirlpool during a storm on August 19. He was one of the fifteen rescued, while authorities later confirmed seven fatalities.
According to authorities, there were 22 people on board the yacht, including 12 passengers and 10 crew members.
Among the victims were British tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, as well as the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas. Other victims included Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Blumer, renowned American lawyer Chris Morvillo, and their wives — Judy Blumer and Neda Morvillo.
Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among the rescued.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartozio confirmed on Saturday that an investigation had been launched to determine all possible elements of responsibility, including the captain, crew, supervisory personnel, and the yacht manufacturer.
Catfield is currently under investigation for «negligent shipwreck and multiple cases of negligent manslaughter», - according to the Italian news agency Ansa.
Although he is not in custody, Catfield is prohibited from leaving Italy during the investigation. Maritime law places full responsibility on the captain for the ship, crew, and everyone on board.
On August 25, he was questioned by prosecutors from the Termini Imerese Prosecutor’s Office for the second time in a week, with the main questions focusing on the position of the keel, whether the hatch was open, and when the distress signal was raised in worsening weather conditions.
According to Italian laws, being under investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily lead to criminal charges.
On August 22, according to CNN, Giovanni Costantino, head of The Italian Sea Group, expressed concern that the crew on board the yacht «Bayesian» did not notice the approaching storm and issues with the supposedly «unsinkable ship».
«Everything that happened indicates a series of significant errors. Passengers should not have been in the cabins, and the boat should not have been at anchor. Why did the crew not know about the approaching disturbance?»
James Catfield, a 51-year-old citizen of New Zealand, was the head of the crew on the 184-foot superyacht when it capsized after being caught in a whirlpool during a storm on August 19. He was one of the fifteen rescued, while authorities later confirmed seven fatalities.
According to authorities, there were 22 people on board the yacht, including 12 passengers and 10 crew members.
Among the victims were British tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, as well as the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas. Other victims included Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Blumer, renowned American lawyer Chris Morvillo, and their wives — Judy Blumer and Neda Morvillo.
Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among the rescued.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartozio confirmed on Saturday that an investigation had been launched to determine all possible elements of responsibility, including the captain, crew, supervisory personnel, and the yacht manufacturer.
Catfield is currently under investigation for «negligent shipwreck and multiple cases of negligent manslaughter», - according to the Italian news agency Ansa.
Although he is not in custody, Catfield is prohibited from leaving Italy during the investigation. Maritime law places full responsibility on the captain for the ship, crew, and everyone on board.
On August 25, he was questioned by prosecutors from the Termini Imerese Prosecutor’s Office for the second time in a week, with the main questions focusing on the position of the keel, whether the hatch was open, and when the distress signal was raised in worsening weather conditions.
According to Italian laws, being under investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily lead to criminal charges.
On August 22, according to CNN, Giovanni Costantino, head of The Italian Sea Group, expressed concern that the crew on board the yacht «Bayesian» did not notice the approaching storm and issues with the supposedly «unsinkable ship».
«Everything that happened indicates a series of significant errors. Passengers should not have been in the cabins, and the boat should not have been at anchor. Why did the crew not know about the approaching disturbance?»
© Puhova Marina
