A British inquest heard on Tuesday that the investigation into the deaths last year of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and banker Jonathan Bloomer, as well as members of their family, who died when a luxury boat sank, will take several months.

Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18 years old, and Morgan Stanley International Chairman Bloomer and wife Judith perished when the superyacht Bayesian sank in a violent and sudden storm near the Porticello port, near Palermo, Sicily, on August 19, 2024. Two other guests, as well as the cook of the ship, also died.

The Lynch family ship is still lying on the seabed. British investigators expect it to be lifted and brought to land next month.

Lynch created Britain's largest software company, Autonomy. He sold it to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for $11 billion.

HP and U.S. prosecutors both pursued Lynch a year later after discovering a massive accounting fraud at Autonomy.

In June 2024, the 59-year old was celebrating his acquittal from 15 counts of fraud when the sinking happened.

Italian prosecutors are investigating three crew members: Captain James Cutfield and ship engineer Tim Parker Eaton, as well as Matthew Griffiths on night watch duty.

The suspects are suspected of manslaughter, and that they caused a shipwreck. However, being investigated in Italy doesn't imply guilt or mean formal charges will be filed.

According to an inquest held at Suffolk Coroner's Court on Tuesday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of Britain (MCA) is also investigating whether criminal culpability exists. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also looking into it.

Mark Cam, a senior investigator with the MCA, said that "salvage efforts have begun and we expect to see them on the shore by May this year."

The MCA will examine the Bayesian which is lying at around 50 meters depth on its right. Its data and subsequent investigation would take many months.

Senior Coroner Nigel Parsley questioned him on whether it was fair to say, because the MCA had a long time to go before completing its criminal investigations, that the inquest would also take many months to conclude.

Cam replied, "I believe that's the case sir. Yes." (Reporting and Editing by Ros Russel)

(source: Reuters)