Five Costa Employees Sentenced in Concordia Disaster Jul 21st 2013, 19:11
Four crew members and a Costa Crociere company official were sentenced to short jail terms for their role in the Costa Concordia disaster. The plea bargains do not include Capt. Francesco Schettino, who is trying to negotiate his own deal as he awaits trial in September.
Reuters said the sentences ranged from 18 to 34 months on charges of manslaughter, negligence and shipwreck. Sentences of less than two years are often suspended in Italy, the news service reported, and the longer sentences might be replaced with house arrest or community service. Lawyers for some of the 32 people who died in the January 2012 shipwreck in Italy decried the short sentences and said they would appeal.
CNN said Roberto Ferrarini, Costa’s emergency manager in Genoa, who talked to Schettino during the accident, was sentenced to two years and 10 months. The ship’s hotel director, Manrico Giampedroni, who also spoke with Ferrarini that night, was given two years and six months. First mate Ciro Ambrosio, who was in command when the ship went off course, was sentenced to one year and 11 months. Third officer Silvia Coronica, who was second in command, received 18 months. Helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin, who reportedly misunderstood directions to turn before the ship hit the rocks, was sentenced to 20 months.
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