EXCLUSIVE Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of the £30milllion superyacht Bayesian 'seek to pin blame for tycoon's tragedy on negligent crew'
Prosecutors investigating the sinking of £30million superyacht Bayesian are seeking to blame the crew – to save the Italian yacht building industry, experts have told The Mail on Sunday.
Seven people including tech billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, died when Bayesian sank in a freak storm last August after being hit by winds in excess of 70 mph.
An interim report issued by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch suggested the yacht was susceptible to 'high winds' and 'if tilted to more than 70 degrees would be unrecoverable'.
The crew were 'unaware' of this vulnerability because it was not mentioned in the 184ft Bayesian's manual, it added. The yacht's trademark 236ft mast may have also been to blame, it is suggested.
But Giovanni Costantino, chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, who bought Bayesian's builder Perini Navi, has repeated several times in interviews that the yacht was 'unsinkable' and blamed 'human error' for the disaster.
And prosecutors seem to have ruled out any possibility that the yacht's design and mast, which was removed from Bayesian and brought up separately, may have contributed to the disaster.
According to a leaked prosecution document seen by the MoS, the focus is instead on skipper James Cutfield, first engineer Tim Parker-Eaton and nightwatchman Matthew Griffiths, who, it says, all 'cooperated negligently with each other'.
The MoS can reveal that prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano points the finger at Mr Griffiths for 'not noticing the worsening weather conditions', before saying Mr Parker-Eaton should have 'been aware water was entering the stern of the yacht'.
He adds that Mr Parker-Eaton 'failed to warn the captain promptly' before finally concluding Mr Cutfield 'did not adapt swiftly to adapt all measures needed to deal with the emergency that had arisen, causing it to sink'.
The trio have been placed under formal investigation by prosecutor Cammarano for multiple manslaughter and negligent shipwreck causing a disaster.
All three insist they did all they could to save the yacht and that hatches, doors and windows were all closed in anticipation of the storm that swept in.
But last night a UK marine source, who asked not to be named, told the MoS: 'It's quite clear here that the Italians are looking to protect their yacht-building industry and by passing the blame on to the crew they can make sure they will do.
'The UK MAIB report clearly states the yacht was vulnerable in high winds and this wasn't noted in the manual. The night Bayesian went down winds were more than 70mph and this was enough to knock her over.
'Once she tilted to 70 degrees, there was no turning back and that's what happened.
'Yes, water would have got in as a result but the crew would have no idea that she was vulnerable in high winds because, crucially, it wasn't mentioned in the manual.'
Another London-based maritime accident investigator told the MoS: 'It's always much easier to blame the crew than the yacht manufacturers themselves, so this doesn't surprise me. They are a much easier target when it comes to the insurers as well.'
Seven passengers and crew died on the yacht and 15 people, including Mr Lynch's wife Angela, were rescued. Bayesian is now on dry land in Sicily and being examined.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
Man charged with murdering Irene Mbugua at house in Birmingham
A man has been charged with murdering a mother who was found dead at a house in Birmingham. The body of Irene Mbugua was found by police officers at an address on in Markby Road, Winson Green, at about 01:00 BST on Monday. A post-mortem revealed the 46-year-old died as a result of serious head and face Walsh, 34, has been charged with murder and with assaulting a number of police officers, West Midlands Police said. He was remanded in custody to appear before Birmingham magistrates on Monday. Ms Mbugua's family, who are being supported by specialist officers, issued a tribute to her through the force. "We are so lost without you and we pray for grace to face each day mum, your beautiful smile and hearty laughter will be missed."Please just remind us on how to join the dots because we don't have a map yet. "Rest easy, you remain in our hearts forever." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
42 minutes ago
- The Independent
Kneecap under fresh police scrutiny after ‘start a riot' comments at Glastonbury
Police are assessing videos of comments made by acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury to decide whether any offences may have been committed. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF'. A member of Irish rap trio Kneecap later suggested fans 'start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance. In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon. 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. They added: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. 'The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. 'We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who performs under the name Móglaí Bap said they would 'start a riot outside the courts'. He then clarified: 'No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During the performance, Naoise Ó Cairealláin said: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' He also said a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. Ó hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Próvaí, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action', in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience. The trio opened with the song 'Better Way To Live' from their 2024 album Fine Art and also performed tracks including 'Get Your Brits Out' and 'Hood'. Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags. Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed it would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later. Ó hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while reportedly saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November 2024. On June 18, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20. Saturday night's Pyramid Stage headliner, Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, opened with the song 'Sugar Mountain', with Young saying 'thank you folks' to the crowd as the song ended. The set list, drawing heavily from live album Live Rust, included songs 'Be The Rain', 'When You Dance I Can Really Love', 'Cinnamon Girl' and 'Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)'. Young, 79, played the track 'Looking Forward', by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, telling the audience: 'I just want you to know that tonight, Hank Williams' guitar is here.' Prior to that, 'Harvest Moon' prompted a singalong with festivalgoers swaying and holding their phones in the air. Other songs included 'Sun Green', 'Love and Only Love', 'Like a Hurricane' and classic track 'Old Man', from 1972 album Harvest, and an encore saw Young return to close the headline set out with 'Rockin' in the Free World' and 'Throw Your Hatred Down'. Charli XCX's performance on the Other Stage saw US singer Gracie Abrams perform the viral Apple dance. As the song began, the British pop star said: 'Who the f*** is gonna be Apple girl, Glastonbury?' while holding what appeared to be a glass of wine. The 32-year-old played her Partygirl set at Glastonbury Festival last year, but this time the singer is performing on a much bigger stage amid a year that has seen her pick up a slew of awards. Elsewhere at the festival, Haim were revealed as the surprise act on the Park Stage at 7.30pm on Saturday. The band bounced on to the stage in black and silver outfits and tore into a raucous version of hit single 'The Wire'. After the song, singer Danielle Haim said: 'On our first album, we came to Glastonbury and we played the Park Stage, I love you, and it was the best show I had ever played, until now, this tops everything.' The band was revealed as the surprise act with a red LED sign, similar to the one on their new LP I Quit, which was released earlier this year. The sign read 'the Haim show is about to begin'. Haim also dipped into some of their best-known songs, such as 'Summer Girl', 'Want You Back' and one of their latest singles, 'Relationships'. On the Pyramid Stage, Pulp were revealed to be Patchwork with the Sheffield-formed Britpop band paying homage to their breakthrough 1995 stand-in headline set during the performance.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Judge accuses phone-smuggling mother-of-four of getting pregnant again to avoid prison... then gives her a suspended sentence anyway!
A judge accused a mother of getting pregnant again to avoid prison in an extraordinary blast over her failure to use contraception. Tanya Parker, 36, helped smuggle steroids, mobile phones and tobacco into a jail six years ago as part of her crook husband David Bradley's plan while he was in jail himself. But the pair's sentencing hearing took an unexpected twist as barrister Cathlyn Orchard, defending Parker, confirmed the defendant was between six to seven weeks pregnant. Visibly astonished Judge Dean Kershaw replied: "Are you seriously telling me that? Knowing the position these two are in, she's pregnant again?" He continued: "She understands there's something called contraception, having a child knowing the position both of them are in." Ms Orchard, who had stated the pregnancy was 'unplanned', replied saying that contraception 'doesn't always work' prompting the judge to question as to whether Parker had used any – and suggest that she was attempting to 'manipulate' the sentencing process. The court heard the couple, from Coventry, West Midlands, already have four children together and were childhood sweethearts. The barrister said: "I haven't gone into that detail. She is not wanting to be pregnant and she is conflicted in saying that because she is going to keep the child. It couldn't have come at a worse time." Judge Kershaw responded at the hearing on Thursday: "It all smacks to me it is another thing she is mentioning to avoid custody.' After briefly speaking with Parker in the dock Ms Orchard told the court: "She wasn't taking the pill and doesn't know why. "It wasn't to try and get pregnant or to manipulate." In reply Judge Kershaw said: "What did she possibly think - having had children - happens? That some angel would come down and stop her getting pregnant? "It looks to me she is trying in some way to manipulate the process thinking this will be extra mitigation. It won't. It won't work with me." He went on to point out the numerous lies Parker had told about her involvement in the 2019 HMP Birmingham contraband racket and rejected a claim she was untruthful due to 'panic'. Judge Kershaw told Birmingham Crown Court he was not trying to 'tell people how to lead their lives privately, personally and sexually', but he added: "I am utterly shocked someone in her position could have allowed herself to be in that position she is in now." Ms Orchard went on to say Parker had been put under 'enormous pressure' and placed in an 'impossible situation' at the time by Bradley, who she had been with since the age of 16. He had been remanded in custody at the time for a number of domestic and commercial burglaries, which involved ripping ATM machines from walls. Bradley was later handed lengthy terms of imprisonment. In his sentencing remarks Judge Kershaw took a further swipe at Parker's life choices and said: "It's not for me to comment but you were in a relationship with someone you knew who was a man who had chosen in 2018 to go into people's homes and steal. "You have chosen that's someone you want to be with and you have children." He added: "You chose your relationship over the safety of the prison. That's the reality of what happened." Ultimately, he decided not to jail Parker concluding 'the public do not need protection from you'. Parker admitted two offences of conspiring to convey prohibited articles into prison. She was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activity. Judge Kershaw concluded Bradley, aged 34, had abused his partner's loyalty, adding he was the 'leading light' of the scheme. But he took into account he had already served a lengthy term behind bars and had shown he could 'lead a good and productive' life since his release in October. Bradley, who admitted the same two offences as his wife as well as a charge relating to having a phone in prison, was sentenced to 24 months suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activity. The couple had used corrupt prison guard Christopher Lawley to physically smuggle the contraband into HMP Birmingham. The 43-year-old of Bexley Grove, West Bromwich had admitting three offences of conveying or conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison. He was sentenced to two years and two months at hearing in May this year.
