Superyacht Captain Refuses to Answer Interrogation Questions
The captain of the sunken superyacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily has chosen not to respond to prosecutors’ questions during the investigation into charges of manslaughter.
“My client is simply exercising his right to remain silent. The prosecutor likely anticipated this,” stated Aldo Mordiglia, the attorney representing Captain James Cutfield, today.
James Cutfield, 51, a New Zealand national, is under investigation for manslaughter related to the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian off the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, on August 19. Italian prosecutors have questioned him three times in recent days as they try to understand why such a modern yacht sank
From the standpoint of his lawyer, Captain Cutfield’s legal team has been assembled and requires time to formulate a defense strategy. Along with Cutfield, two other crew members—Chief Engineer Tim Parker Eaton and crew member Matthew Griffith—are also under investigation on similar charges.
Chief Engineer Parker Eaton is suspected of failing to secure the engine room and operational systems of the yacht, while Griffith was on duty the night the incident occurred. Prosecutors have stated that the yacht sank “extremely quickly” during a violent storm that night, with a waterspout contributing to the disaster.
Being under investigation in Italy does not automatically mean the captain is guilty, nor does it necessarily lead to prosecution. Prosecutors have noted that the investigation will take time and that the yacht’s wreck must be salvaged to gather further evidence. Currently, the Bayesian lies tilted to the right at a depth of about 50 meters on the seafloor.
Despite being advertised by its manufacturer as “unsinkable,” the Bayesian sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily, resulting in the deaths of seven people on board, including British tech billionaire Mike Lynch. Fifteen others, including the captain and crew members, survived.
During his first interrogation, Captain Cutfield raised suspicions by claiming he “did not see the storm coming,” even though local fishermen and nearby boats had received warnings and taken precautions, avoiding harm.
Investigators are now focusing on why such a modern yacht like the Bayesian sank while a Dutch-flagged sailboat anchored nearby suffered minimal damage. Authorities are also questioning why the captain and nearly the entire crew, except for the chef, managed to escape in lifeboats, leaving six passengers trapped aboard.
