Costa Concordia captain convicted in deadly shipwreck

Holly Yan Greg Botelho
By Barbie Latza Nadeau, Holly Yan and Greg Botelho, CNN
Updated 4:34 PM EST, Wed February 11, 2015
Costa Concordia
A bird flies overhead the Costa Concordia on January 18, 2012. Rescue operations were suspended as the ship slowly sank further into the sea.
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Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino leaves after a session of the trial in the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster on April 15, 2013 in Grossetto. The deadly Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster returns to court in Italy today with the start of a long series of indictment hearings against six suspects including captain Francesco Schettino. AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (Photo credit should read TIZIANA FABI,TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images)
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino leaves after a session of the trial in the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster on April 15, 2013 in Grossetto. The deadly Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster returns to court in Italy today with the start of a long series of indictment hearings against six suspects including captain Francesco Schettino. AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (Photo credit should read TIZIANA FABI,TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images)
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The captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship Francesco Schettino (L) is escorted after he went onboard the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship in Giglio Port on February 27 , 2014.
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The Costa Concordia ship lies on its side on the Tuscan Island of Giglio, Italy, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. Using a vast system of steel cables and pulleys, maritime engineers on Monday gingerly winched the massive hull of the Costa Concordia off the reef where the cruise ship capsized near an Italian island in January 2012. But progress in pulling the heavily listing luxury liner to an upright position was going much slower than expected. Delays meant the delicate operation — originally scheduled from dawn to dusk Monday — was not expected to be completed before Tuesday morning. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Story highlights

Francesco Schettino is sentenced to 16 years in prison

Judges find him guilty of manslaughter and abandoning ship

Schettino says he "died along with the 32 others that day," went through "media meat grinder"

Grosseto, Italy CNN  — 

The captain of the Costa Concordia is guilty of manslaughter and other charges related to the ship’s fatal wreck in January 2012 off the Italian coast, a judge announced Wednesday night, capping a tumultuous 19-month trial and providing a little more closure for dozens of grieving families.

Lengthy trial or not, the three-judge panel needed only about five hours to decide the fate of Francesco Schettino. Their choices: Agree with prosecutors who cast the captain as an “idiot” who abandoned ship like a coward, or with defense lawyers who characterized him as a “scapegoat” who ended up in a lifeboat only because he lost his balance and fell into it.

The judges apparently sided with prosecutors, and sentenced Schettino to spend 16 years in prison and to pay court costs.

It could have been worse. The former captain faced a possible sentence of 26 years behind bars for convictions for causing a maritime disaster, abandoning ship and multiple counts of manslaughter.

Captain: I went through ‘media meat grinder’

The nightmare will never end for the families of those 32 people who died after the cruise ship, captained by Schettino, crashed into rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio.

And for a while, it may have seemed like Schettino’s trial wouldn’t end either.

Over the past two years, the judges heard from a wide variety of witnesses, including passengers, crew members and technical experts.

Those testifying included the captain’s female guest on the cruise, Domnica Cermortan, a Moldovan dancer who testified that she was in a romantic relationship with Schettino and that she was with him on the bridge when the accident occurred.

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ctw nadeau costa concordia captain testifies_00005707.jpg
video

Costa Concordia's captain speaks in court

Schettino admitted to the court that his reason for sailing close to Giglio – leading the ship to hit rocks – was to “impress the passengers.”

Just before the judges got the case, the captain took the opportunity to speak again.

Breaking down in tears, Schettino recalled that January day three years ago.

“I died along with the 32 others,” he said.

And since then, Schettino insisted, he’s become a victim, processed by a “media meat grinder.”

Lawyer cites Champagne bottle

Schettino’s lead lawyer, Domenico Pepe, began closing arguments Monday, saying the Champagne bottle used to christen the ship when it was put into service in 2006 did not break.

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costa.concordia's final voyage_00030211.jpg
video

Costa Concordia's final voyage

“Everything about this ship and this process since then has been a mystery so far,” he said.

Pepe addressed each of the charges against the captain, starting with the count of causing a shipwreck and maritime disaster.

He said helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin allegedly did not understand English – a language he was required to speak – when Schettino gave the orders to turn the ship away from the island. Therefore, the attorney argued, Rusli Bin caused the accident – not Schettino.

Rusli Bin was subpoenaed to testify, but his last known address was in Indonesia, and he could not be forced to come to the court in Italy.

Schettino’s defense also hinged on alleged malfunctions of the ship’s equipment and infrastructure, including claims that the ship had faulty watertight doors and generators, and that the elevators did not work when the ship was listing. These claims were hard to verify because much of the ship was immersed off the coast of Giglio for many months after the accident.

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The Parbuckling Project
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Costa Concordia wreckage afloat again

“Everything that did not work on the ship is part of the cause of the accident,” Pepe told the court. “Lights didn’t work. People fell into holes. Elevators got stuck.”

Pepe ripped the prosecutor, who referred to Schettino as an “idiot” in his closing arguments last week.

The lawyer offered one last defense of his client Wednesday, even as he said it would be “easier to fly than defend Schettino,” given all the barbs directed his way by the cruise ship company and media who “needed a scapegoat.”

“In these three years,” Pepe said, “Schettino has suffered the same as a 30-year sentence.”

The abandoning ship charge

Pepe tried to explain why his client left the ship ahead of so many passengers.

He used a graphic to illustrate the inclination of the ship at the time Schettino apparently lost his balance and fell into the lifeboat that took him to shore. He said that once on shore, Schettino was able to conduct the rescue operation and that he never lost control of the operation.

The attorney addressed the famous exchange between Gregorio De Falco – commander of the Livorno Port Authority the night of the accident – and Schettino, during which De Falco told Schettino to “get back on board for f**k’s sake.” Pepe called De Falco’s tone degrading and said the commander was unprofessional and egotistic at a moment when he should have been a voice of calm.

Pepe suggested it was De Falco’s stern manner, rather than Schettino’s alleged ineptitude, that damaged Italy’s reputation.

The manslaughter charges

Addressing the manslaughter charges, Pepe tried to bolster his argument that because no one died on impact when the ship slammed into the rocks, Schettino cannot be held liable.

Italian police release footage showing the underwater exterior and interior of the wrecked cruise ship Costa Concordia.
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From Carabinieri
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Look inside the Costa Concordia underwater

Everyone who perished lost their lives as a result of the chaotic evacuation, he said.

Pepe defended Schettino’s decision to delay the call to abandon ship by nearly an hour.

“Stop for a minute to consider what would have happened if he had abandoned ship 1 kilometer from shore,” Pepe said. “There could be 4,500 dead, not 32.” (There were 4,229 passengers and crew on the ship.)

He also suggested that finding Schettino not guilty would actually be good for Italy’s image, somehow restoring it in the eyes of the world, which has seen this case as an example of Italian ineptitude.

But unless there’s a successful appeal, Italy will never find out if that would be the case.

The refloated wreck of the Costa Concordia is towed to the Italian port of Genoa on Sunday, July 27, to be scrapped, ending the ship's final journey two and a half years after it capsized at a cost of 32 lives.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The refloated wreck of the Costa Concordia is towed to the Italian port of Genoa on Sunday, July 27, to be scrapped, ending the ship's final journey two and a half years after it capsized at a cost of 32 lives.
The Concordia is towed into the port of Genoa on July 27.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The Concordia is towed into the port of Genoa on July 27.
Tugboats tow the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it leaves Italy's Giglio Island on Wednesday, July 23.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Courtesy of the Italian Civil Protection Department/AP
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Tugboats tow the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it leaves Italy's Giglio Island on Wednesday, July 23.
A view from a porthole shows the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it's being towed on July 23. It'll take about two years to dismantle the massive cruise liner.<br />
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A view from a porthole shows the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it's being towed on July 23. It'll take about two years to dismantle the massive cruise liner.
The Costa Concordia cruise ship sits in front of the harbor of Giglio Island after it was refloated using air tanks attached to its sides on Tuesday, July 22. Environmental concerns prompted the decision to undertake the expensive and difficult process of refloating the ship rather than taking it apart on site.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The Costa Concordia cruise ship sits in front of the harbor of Giglio Island after it was refloated using air tanks attached to its sides on Tuesday, July 22. Environmental concerns prompted the decision to undertake the expensive and difficult process of refloating the ship rather than taking it apart on site.
The ship's name appears above the water on Monday, July 21. The ship is expected to arrive in Genoa on Sunday, August 27.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The ship's name appears above the water on Monday, July 21. The ship is expected to arrive in Genoa on Sunday, August 27.
Tugboats pull the Costa Concordia after the first stage of the refloating operation on Wednesday, July 16.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Laura Lezza/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Tugboats pull the Costa Concordia after the first stage of the refloating operation on Wednesday, July 16.
A small boat passes by the wreckage on Tuesday, July 15.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A small boat passes by the wreckage on Tuesday, July 15.
Water is expelled from the caissons hooked onto the Costa Concordia on Monday, July 14. The ship will be towed north to the port in Genoa, Italy.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Water is expelled from the caissons hooked onto the Costa Concordia on Monday, July 14. The ship will be towed north to the port in Genoa, Italy.
Thirty-two people died when the 114,000-ton vessel, seen here on July 14, ran aground off Giglio in January 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Thirty-two people died when the 114,000-ton vessel, seen here on July 14, ran aground off Giglio in January 2012.
In December 2013, crews managed to rotate the ship into an upright position.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
In December 2013, crews managed to rotate the ship into an upright position.
To float the ship, seen here on Thursday, June 26, crews attached 30 steel tanks to fill with compressed air.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
To float the ship, seen here on Thursday, June 26, crews attached 30 steel tanks to fill with compressed air.
Ship captain Francesco Schettino, left, returned to the Concordia in February for the first time since he ran the liner aground. He is on trial on charges of manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board. He denies wrongdoing.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Ship captain Francesco Schettino, left, returned to the Concordia in February for the first time since he ran the liner aground. He is on trial on charges of manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board. He denies wrongdoing.
Experts inspect the ship's damage in January. They boarded the vessel to collect new evidence, focusing on the ship's bridge and the onboard elevators.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Laura Lezza/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Experts inspect the ship's damage in January. They boarded the vessel to collect new evidence, focusing on the ship's bridge and the onboard elevators.
The wreckage of the Costa Concordia cruise ship sits near the harbor of Giglio on Tuesday, September 17, after a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/18/europe/gallery/costa-concordia/www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/europe/italy-costa-concordia-salvage/index.html" target="_blank">salvage crew rolled the ship off its side</a>.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The wreckage of the Costa Concordia cruise ship sits near the harbor of Giglio on Tuesday, September 17, after a salvage crew rolled the ship off its side.
The ship had been lying on its side for 20 months off the island of Giglio. Here, members of the U.S. company Titan Salvage and the Italian marine contractor Micoperi pass by the wreckage.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The ship had been lying on its side for 20 months off the island of Giglio. Here, members of the U.S. company Titan Salvage and the Italian marine contractor Micoperi pass by the wreckage.
Damage to the right side of the ship is apparent in September.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Andrew Medichini/AP
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Damage to the right side of the ship is apparent in September.
Using a vast system of steel cables and pulleys, maritime engineers work on Monday, September 16, to hoist the ship's massive hull off the reef where it capsized.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Using a vast system of steel cables and pulleys, maritime engineers work on Monday, September 16, to hoist the ship's massive hull off the reef where it capsized.
The project to upright the Costa Concordia continues on September 16. The nearly $800 million effort reportedly is the largest maritime salvage operation ever.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Marco Secchi/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The project to upright the Costa Concordia continues on September 16. The nearly $800 million effort reportedly is the largest maritime salvage operation ever.
A water line marks the former level of the stricken Costa Concordia as the salvaging operation continues on September 16. The procedure, known as parbuckling, has never been carried out on a vessel as large as Costa Concordia before.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Laura Lezza/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A water line marks the former level of the stricken Costa Concordia as the salvaging operation continues on September 16. The procedure, known as parbuckling, has never been carried out on a vessel as large as Costa Concordia before.
Members of Titan and Micoperi work at the wreck site early on September 16.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Members of Titan and Micoperi work at the wreck site early on September 16.
Technicians work to salvage the half-submerged ship in July 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Technicians work to salvage the half-submerged ship in July 2013.
Giant hollow boxes have been attached to the side of the ship, seen here in May 2013. Attempts to refloat the ship will be aided by the compartments.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Giant hollow boxes have been attached to the side of the ship, seen here in May 2013. Attempts to refloat the ship will be aided by the compartments.
A commemorative plaque honoring the victims of the cruise disaster is unveiled in Giglio on January 14, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Laura Lezza/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A commemorative plaque honoring the victims of the cruise disaster is unveiled in Giglio on January 14, 2013.
Survivors, grieving relatives and locals release lanterns into the sky in Giglio after a minute of silence on January 13, 2013, marking the one-year anniversary of the shipwreck. The 32 lanterns -- one for each of the victims -- were released at 9:45 p.m. local time, the moment of impact.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Laura Lezza/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Survivors, grieving relatives and locals release lanterns into the sky in Giglio after a minute of silence on January 13, 2013, marking the one-year anniversary of the shipwreck. The 32 lanterns -- one for each of the victims -- were released at 9:45 p.m. local time, the moment of impact.
A man holds an Italian flag on his balcony overlooking the port of Giglio on January 13, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A man holds an Italian flag on his balcony overlooking the port of Giglio on January 13, 2013.
A man works in front of the shipwreck on January 12, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A man works in front of the shipwreck on January 12, 2013.
A couple walks along the port of Giglio at night on January 12, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A couple walks along the port of Giglio at night on January 12, 2013.
A man sits in his boat in front of the half-submerged cruise ship on January 8, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A man sits in his boat in front of the half-submerged cruise ship on January 8, 2013.
Cranes and floating decks surrounding the ship light up the dusk sky on January 9, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Cranes and floating decks surrounding the ship light up the dusk sky on January 9, 2013.
Workers stand on the edge of the ship on January 8, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Workers stand on the edge of the ship on January 8, 2013.
A crew passes by the hulking remains on January 7, 2013.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A crew passes by the hulking remains on January 7, 2013.
People enjoy a day in the sun with a view of the cruise liner on July 1, 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Guido MARZILLA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
People enjoy a day in the sun with a view of the cruise liner on July 1, 2012.
Military rescue workers approach the cruise liner on January 22, 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Military rescue workers approach the cruise liner on January 22, 2012.
Members of the Italian coast guard conduct a search-and-rescue mission on January 21, 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Laura Lezza/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Members of the Italian coast guard conduct a search-and-rescue mission on January 21, 2012.
Rescue operations to search for missing people resumed on January 20, 2012, after being suspended for a third time as conditions caused the vessel to shift on the rocks.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Ufficio Stampa Gruppo Carabinieri Subaquei via Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Rescue operations to search for missing people resumed on January 20, 2012, after being suspended for a third time as conditions caused the vessel to shift on the rocks.
The Costa Serena, the sister ship of the wrecked Costa Concordia, passes by on January 18, 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The Costa Serena, the sister ship of the wrecked Costa Concordia, passes by on January 18, 2012.
A bird flies overhead the Costa Concordia on January 18, 2012. Rescue operations were suspended as the ship slowly sank farther into the sea.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
A bird flies overhead the Costa Concordia on January 18, 2012. Rescue operations were suspended as the ship slowly sank farther into the sea.
The ship was sailing a few hundred meters off the rocky Tuscan coastline.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The ship was sailing a few hundred meters off the rocky Tuscan coastline.
An Italian coast guard helicopter flies over Giglio's harbor on January 16, 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
An Italian coast guard helicopter flies over Giglio's harbor on January 16, 2012.
Rescuers search the waters near the stricken ship on January 16, 2012.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Rescuers search the waters near the stricken ship on January 16, 2012.
The Concordia, pictured on January 15, 2012, was on a Mediterranean cruise from Rome when it hit rocks off the coast of Giglio.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The Concordia, pictured on January 15, 2012, was on a Mediterranean cruise from Rome when it hit rocks off the coast of Giglio.
The ship starts keeling over early on January 14, 2012. Evacuation efforts started promptly but were made "extremely difficult" by the position of the listing ship, officials said.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
Luca Milano/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
The ship starts keeling over early on January 14, 2012. Evacuation efforts started promptly but were made "extremely difficult" by the position of the listing ship, officials said.
Rescued passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, on January 14, 2012. The Costa Concordia was carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members.
Photos: Photos: The Costa Concordia disaster
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Costa Concordia disaster —
Rescued passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, on January 14, 2012. The Costa Concordia was carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members.