Sentencing Of Costa Concordia Captain Upheld By Italian Court

The sentencing of 16-years for the Captain of the Costa Concordia, which capsized in January 2012 killing 32 people, has been upheld by the highest court in Italy.
 
Following the verdict, Captain Francesco Schettino handed himself in to the Rebibbia prison in Rome.

​The Captain was sentenced in 2015, after he was found guilty by the court of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident and abandoning the Costa Concordia.
 
The 114,147 gross tonne cruise ship capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio after the ship hit rocks, severely damaging the ship. Over 4,000 passengers and crew were on board the ship at the time and were forced to evacuate the ship.
 
Prosecutors state that the Captain steering the Costa Concordia too close to the shoreline in order for him to show off to a dancer who was with him at the helm on the bridge. The Captain however blamed it on communication problems with the Indonesian helmsman.
 
The 16-year sentencing of the Captain includes ten years for manslaughter, five years for causing the shipwreck, one year for abandoning the ship before ensuring the passengers and crew were evacuated, and one month for lying to the authorities following the incident.
 
The cruise line which owned the ship, Costa Cruises, avoided criminal charges in 2013 by agreeing to pay a fine of approximately £769.00.