Rome Prosecutors Seek GoPro Footage in Maldives Diving Tragedy
Rome, May 26 – The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has dispatched a rogatory letter to the Maltese authorities, seeking comprehensive details of the ongoing investigations into the tragic deaths of five Italian divers in the Maldives. The request specifically targets the acquisition of images recorded by GoPro devices utilized during the deep-sea dives, which saw the individuals descend to a depth of sixty meters.
Prosecutors Lucia Lotti and Claudio De Lazzaro are leading the inquiry, which currently operates under the hypothesis of culpable homicide. The investigation aims to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly focusing on why the divers ventured to such extreme depths, significantly beyond the typical thirty meters for recreational dives, and by whose authorization they did so. The rogatory letter is now with the Maldives authorities, with Roman prosecutors hoping for swift responses.
Investigation Uncovers Unanswered Questions
As previously reported, the dramatic sequence of events has raised critical questions regarding the dive’s unusual depth. A central aspect of the ongoing investigation, delegated to the mobile squad, involves examining the work of Monica Montefalcone, a professor at the University of Genoa and one of the victims. Authorities are probing whether her research at the university had directed the dives towards ‘unusual objectives.’ This remains an unclear point, which agents coordinated by Roberto Pititto are tasked with clarifying.
University of Genoa Addresses Profile Removal
Adding to the complexities, the University of Genoa reportedly removed Professor Montefalcone’s profile from its website, a move that caused concern among the victims’ families. University officials, however, clarified that this is an automatic procedure following a death, emphasizing that there was no disrespectful intent behind the action.
Previous Reports and Ongoing Inquiries
Earlier reports have detailed various aspects of the tragedy, including the recovery of two Italian divers’ bodies from a cave in the Maldives. Investigations have also involved the seizure of phones and computers belonging to the deceased, with authorities searching for videos, messages, and dive data. One theory suggests that Gianluca Benedetti’s oxygen tank was empty, leading to the hypothesis that the divers became trapped in the cave until their oxygen supply was depleted.
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office continues its diligent efforts to piece together the events that led to this unfortunate incident, aiming to provide answers to the grieving families.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_maggio_26/sub-morti-maldive-richiesta-gopro-eb5de58b-2d90-4adf-93d1-54914f2b1xlk.shtml
