Costa Concordia captain on trial

Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia, was present in court on Monday for his first questioning regarding the capsizing of the cruise liner in January 2012, close to the island of Giglio in Italy.

There were 4,229 people onboard when the Costa Concordia hit rocks and suffered a big gash, flooding the ship and forcing passengers to leave. Thirty-two people were killed in the accident. Schettino was subsequently charged with manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship, and is facing questioning for the first time in court since the disaster occurred.

"Don't think I am not tormented," the former skipper admitted, adding that "the genesis of the disaster was a stupid mistake." Answering questions in a theater serving as a court in central Italy's Grosseto, Schettino said he wanted to "kill three birds with one stone." He wanted to do the chief waiter a favor and visit his relatives in Giglio. He wanted to meet his friend, retired captian Mario Palumbo, and he wanted to put up a show for his passengers.

Schettino said he navigated close to the island without informing officials from Costa Crociere, owners of the Concordia, because the island was not a "touristic route" and was considered an "approach."

Schettino also denied having abandoned the ship, saying that he was thrown into the waters. His defense also maintains that no one died because of the actual collision, but that a backup generator failed and water-tight compartments got flooded, creating problems for people wanting to escape.

In earlier interviews with the media, Schettino has also denied full blame for the disaster, but he may face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Four other crew members held responsible for the capsize discussed plea agreements and received sentences in prison ranging from 18 months to over two years.

mg/mkg (dpa, AP)