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| Death Penalty Is Sought for Captain in Sinking of South Korean Ferry | Death Penalty Is Sought for Captain in Sinking of South Korean Ferry |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| GWANGJU, South Korea — Prosecutors on Monday demanded the death penalty for the captain of the South Korean ferry that sank in April, killing 304 people, most of them teenage students, the country’s worst peacetime disaster in decades. | |
| The captain, Lee Jun-seok, 69, “did nothing to help rescue his passengers,” said Park Jae-eok, the chief prosecutor, during a court hearing in this southwestern city. | The captain, Lee Jun-seok, 69, “did nothing to help rescue his passengers,” said Park Jae-eok, the chief prosecutor, during a court hearing in this southwestern city. |
| Prosecutors demanded life imprisonment for three other crewmen: the first mate, Kang Won-sik; the second mate, Kim Young-ho; and the chief engineer, Park Gi-ho. They called for 15 to 30 years for 11 other crew members, who faced accidental homicide, criminal negligence and other charges. | Prosecutors demanded life imprisonment for three other crewmen: the first mate, Kang Won-sik; the second mate, Kim Young-ho; and the chief engineer, Park Gi-ho. They called for 15 to 30 years for 11 other crew members, who faced accidental homicide, criminal negligence and other charges. |
| In their final argument before a court verdict, expected Nov. 11, the prosecutors said that the 15 crew members of the 6,825-ton Sewol knew that their ship was sinking and that the passengers were waiting inside after repeated instructions for them to stay put. The crew members boarded the first coast guard boats arriving, the prosecutors said. | In their final argument before a court verdict, expected Nov. 11, the prosecutors said that the 15 crew members of the 6,825-ton Sewol knew that their ship was sinking and that the passengers were waiting inside after repeated instructions for them to stay put. The crew members boarded the first coast guard boats arriving, the prosecutors said. |
| “They only cared about their own lives,” one prosecutor said before a courtroom packed with 60 relatives of the victims. | “They only cared about their own lives,” one prosecutor said before a courtroom packed with 60 relatives of the victims. |
| The Sewol sank off southwestern South Korea on April 16. It was carrying twice as much cargo as legally allowed, and much of the cargo was poorly secured, the prosecutors said. | The Sewol sank off southwestern South Korea on April 16. It was carrying twice as much cargo as legally allowed, and much of the cargo was poorly secured, the prosecutors said. |
| When the crew members, dressed in pea-green jail uniforms, entered the courtroom and bowed toward the family members, some responded by hissing. | When the crew members, dressed in pea-green jail uniforms, entered the courtroom and bowed toward the family members, some responded by hissing. |
| The lawyers for the captain and three others accused of murder all argued that their clients had no intention of killing the passengers. They also said the crew should not face blame exclusively. | The lawyers for the captain and three others accused of murder all argued that their clients had no intention of killing the passengers. They also said the crew should not face blame exclusively. |
| Crew members, the lawyers said, were also victims of a greedy ferry operator that had given inadequate safety training and ignored repeated warnings about the overloading and instability of the ship. | Crew members, the lawyers said, were also victims of a greedy ferry operator that had given inadequate safety training and ignored repeated warnings about the overloading and instability of the ship. |
| “I am sorry. I will repent until the last day of my life,” Mr. Lee, the captain, said in a final statement. “When I look back, I feel nothing but shame.” | “I am sorry. I will repent until the last day of my life,” Mr. Lee, the captain, said in a final statement. “When I look back, I feel nothing but shame.” |
| Many defendants wept during their final statements. | Many defendants wept during their final statements. |
| “I wish I could turn the clock back,” Park Han-gyeol, the third mate, said. | “I wish I could turn the clock back,” Park Han-gyeol, the third mate, said. |
| The ship encountered trouble while making a sharper turn than usual in waters known for unpredictable currents. It was the first time that Ms. Park, 25, had been in charge while the ship was navigating those waters. The captain was in his room. | The ship encountered trouble while making a sharper turn than usual in waters known for unpredictable currents. It was the first time that Ms. Park, 25, had been in charge while the ship was navigating those waters. The captain was in his room. |
| Investigators said the ship lost balance and listed badly as the excess cargo, poorly lashed, shifted position. | Investigators said the ship lost balance and listed badly as the excess cargo, poorly lashed, shifted position. |