The captain of the Bayesian yacht that sunk off the coast of Sicily earlier this month is staying silent for now as a manslaughter investigation is launched into the tragedy.
James Cutfield, 51, is being investigated for manslaughter after the vessel sunk, resulting in the demise of seven folks.
Amongst them was the proprietor of the yacht, British businessman Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
Mr Cutfield insists he did the whole lot he might to avoid wasting the folks onboard, sources near him have mentioned.
He and his crew are beneath investigation, however the probe doesn’t imply formal costs will probably be introduced in opposition to any of them.
Tim Parker-Eaton, from Clophill, Beds, and sailor Matthew Griffith, 22, are additionally beneath investigation.
Mr Cutfield’s brother, Mark, informed the New Zealand Herald that his brother is recovering in hospital.
He added that James is a “superb sailor.”
Italian regulation dictates that the welfare of passengers is the duty of the captain of the vessel.
Mr Cutfield’s lawyer has mentioned there are two explanation why his shopper has but to interrupt his silence on the investigation.
He informed The Instances: “There have been two causes. He’s understandably very shaken up, and secondly, us legal professionals have been solely appointed yesterday and we have to purchase info we would not have with the intention to defend him.”
Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio has mentioned there might have been “behaviours that weren’t completely so as with regard to the duty everyone had.”
He promised to “uncover how a lot they knew and to what extent all of the folks (passengers) have been warned.”
Mr Cartosio added: “There might be the truth is the query of murder. However that is the start of the inquiry, we can’t exclude something in any respect…We’ll set up every factor’s (crew) duty.
“For me, it’s possible that offences have been dedicated — that it might be a case of manslaughter.”