Costa Concordia Captain Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison

A file photo dated 02 December 2014 of `Costa Concordia` cruise ship captain Francesco Schettino standing in the courthouse before the start of his trial, in Grosseto, Italy. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The captain of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Wednesday for his role in the 2012 shipwreck that killed 32 passengers and crewmembers close to the Tuscan island of Giglio.

Francesco Schettino, 54, was found guilty of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship while many of the 4200 passengers and crew were still aboard, according to reports of the BBC News.

The sentence was substantially reduced from the 26 years and 3 months requested by the prosecutors.

The wreck occurred at around 9:45 p.m. on January 13, 2012.

The ship struck a reef as Schettino steered the ship too close to the Tuscan island’s shoreline. The evacuation process was delayed and very chaotic, according to testimony of passengers and crew members.

The trial against Schettino started in July 2013.

Testimony uncovered errors by crew members and equipment malfunctions.

Schettino will not begin serving his sentence until the appeals process is completed.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!