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| Costa Concordia captain Schettino sobs as verdict looms | Costa Concordia captain Schettino sobs as verdict looms |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The captain of the wrecked Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia broke into sobs as he made a final appeal to judges ahead of a verdict in his trial. | The captain of the wrecked Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia broke into sobs as he made a final appeal to judges ahead of a verdict in his trial. |
| Capt Francesco Schettino said he had been made a scapegoat for the accident. | Capt Francesco Schettino said he had been made a scapegoat for the accident. |
| Thirty-two people died in January 2012 when the ship was steered too close to the island of Giglio and hit rocks. | Thirty-two people died in January 2012 when the ship was steered too close to the island of Giglio and hit rocks. |
| The prosecution wants Capt Schettino jailed for 26 years for multiple manslaughter, but the captain denies all the charges against him. | The prosecution wants Capt Schettino jailed for 26 years for multiple manslaughter, but the captain denies all the charges against him. |
| Speaking on the last day of his trial, the skipper said his head had been "offered for sacrifice" in order to safeguard economic interests. | Speaking on the last day of his trial, the skipper said his head had been "offered for sacrifice" in order to safeguard economic interests. |
| "I have spent the last three years in a media meat grinder," he said. "It is difficult to call what I have been living through a 'life'." | "I have spent the last three years in a media meat grinder," he said. "It is difficult to call what I have been living through a 'life'." |
| He added: "All the responsibility has been loaded on to me with no respect for the truth or for the memory of the victims." | He added: "All the responsibility has been loaded on to me with no respect for the truth or for the memory of the victims." |
| Capt Schettino was unable to finish his statement, saying "enough" before slumping back into his seat. | Capt Schettino was unable to finish his statement, saying "enough" before slumping back into his seat. |
| Ripped open | Ripped open |
| The judges in the 19-month trial retired on Wednesday to consider a verdict. | |
| Investigators have severely criticised Capt Schettino's handling of the disaster, accusing him of bringing the 290m-long vessel too close to shore when it struck rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio. | Investigators have severely criticised Capt Schettino's handling of the disaster, accusing him of bringing the 290m-long vessel too close to shore when it struck rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio. |
| The trial, in the city of Grosseto, has heard how the ship was ripped open on the rocks and more than 4,000 passengers and crew were forced into a chaotic evacuation. | The trial, in the city of Grosseto, has heard how the ship was ripped open on the rocks and more than 4,000 passengers and crew were forced into a chaotic evacuation. |
| Capt Schettino has also been accused of compounding his crime by abandoning his vessel and saving himself while passengers were in danger - earning him the title "Captain Coward" in the Italian media. | Capt Schettino has also been accused of compounding his crime by abandoning his vessel and saving himself while passengers were in danger - earning him the title "Captain Coward" in the Italian media. |
| 'Collective failure' | 'Collective failure' |
| Prosecutors have asked for Capt Schettino to be jailed on charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship with passengers and crew still on board. | Prosecutors have asked for Capt Schettino to be jailed on charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship with passengers and crew still on board. |
| Throughout the trial, his lawyers have argued that it was a collective failure and others should share the blame for the disaster. | Throughout the trial, his lawyers have argued that it was a collective failure and others should share the blame for the disaster. |
| He has spoken of "commercial reasons" for taking the liner so close to the coast in an attempt to please his passengers and those ashore. | He has spoken of "commercial reasons" for taking the liner so close to the coast in an attempt to please his passengers and those ashore. |
| He has rejected rumours that he had wanted to impress his lover, Domnica Cemortan, who was with him at the helm. | He has rejected rumours that he had wanted to impress his lover, Domnica Cemortan, who was with him at the helm. |
| Disaster timeline | Disaster timeline |
| Captain on trial | Captain on trial |
| Salvaging the Costa Concordia | Salvaging the Costa Concordia |
| In the aftermath of the wreck the ship's operator, Costa Crociere, was allowed to make a plea bargain and was fined €1m (£740,000; $1.13m). | In the aftermath of the wreck the ship's operator, Costa Crociere, was allowed to make a plea bargain and was fined €1m (£740,000; $1.13m). |
| Some of the survivors argue that the firm still has questions to answer on issues such as the calibre of the ship's crew and its operating procedures. | Some of the survivors argue that the firm still has questions to answer on issues such as the calibre of the ship's crew and its operating procedures. |
| Five senior crew members were convicted of manslaughter in July 2013. | Five senior crew members were convicted of manslaughter in July 2013. |
| Two officers, the helmsman, the head of cabin service and the head of the crisis team were given up to two years and 10 months in plea bargains. | Two officers, the helmsman, the head of cabin service and the head of the crisis team were given up to two years and 10 months in plea bargains. |
| Capt Schettino's request for a plea bargain was turned down. | Capt Schettino's request for a plea bargain was turned down. |