Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino has made a combative first appearance at his trial for manslaughter.
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino took the stand in Grosseto, Italy, for the first time on Tuesday, contradicting what he has reportedly previously said about his role in the tragic capsizing that killed 32 people off Giglio in January, 2012.
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino denies the charge and related ones of causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board. When shown the deposition given by his first officer, Ciro Ambrosio, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year, Schettino was argumentative and gesticulated wildly, CNN reported
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino lawyers argued that what the captain has previously told Italian TV about radar readings and who was on the bridge cannot be used as evidence in court.
The master explained how it was common to invite passengers and guests on the bridge, and said they often tipped him. "I said there couldn't be more than 12 people at a time," he said. "And they would bring EUR 20 ($25), 30, 70 a tour."
He said he had frequently carried out "flyby" activities close to the coast with his cruiseship. "It was favourable from a commercial aspect," he said.
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino said that on the fateful day, he thought retired Costa captain Mario Palombo was on the island of Giglio.
When the prosecutor asked Schettino why he called Palombo and then why he asked Palombo how deep the coastal waters were, he said he was just making conversation.
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino added he gave the orders to Indonesian helmsman Jacob Bin Rusli to depart from the set course after using his binoculars to look ahead. When asked if the helmsman caused the accident, he said: "I'm not trying to blame anyone. I'm just trying to explain the circumstances.
"It was my habit to take my binoculars and look first. Not that I didn't trust the radar, but it was how I did it."
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino was confident that the ship had enough room for the move.
In an audiotape from the ship's data recorder, Schettino told his helmsman to turn "otherwise we go on the rocks."
This was "ironic" comment, he said. "A few minutes later, I was told the danger we were in." The last words from Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino captured on the tape were: "But where did we touch?". Someone responded: "Oh my dear God."