Wednesday 3 December 2014

Lifeboat video shown at Concordia trial





  • Video appears to show Francesco Schettino climbing into a lifeboat from the ship

  • The ship's captain has previously said he was thrown off the listing cruise liner

  • Schettino denies manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship charges

  • Thirty-two people died after the Costa Concordia hit rocks and capsized off Italy's coast




Rome (CNN) -- A damning new video shown Wednesday at the trial of Francesco Schettino, captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner, appears to show him boarding a lifeboat with passengers still clearly on board the doomed ship.


It was presented to the court as Schettino took the stand for a second day.


Schettino's lawyer, Domenico Pepe, asked the court not to admit the fuzzy videotape that appeared to show the captain getting onto a lifeboat from the ship's bow wearing the same jacket and tie he had on at dinner before the ship crashed.


But the judge ruled that Schettino could be questioned about it.


The captain has previously said he was thrown off the cruise liner into a lifeboat as the ship listed sharply.









The refloated wreck of the Costa Concordia is towed to the Italian port of Genoa on Sunday, July 27, to be scrapped, ending the ship's final journey two and a half years after it capsized at a cost of 32 lives. The refloated wreck of the Costa Concordia is towed to the Italian port of Genoa on Sunday, July 27, to be scrapped, ending the ship's final journey two and a half years after it capsized at a cost of 32 lives.



The Concordia is towed into the port of Genoa on July 27. The Concordia is towed into the port of Genoa on July 27.



Tugboats tow the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it leaves Italy's Giglio Island on Wednesday, July 23. Tugboats tow the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it leaves Italy's Giglio Island on Wednesday, July 23.



A view from a porthole shows the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it's being towed on July 23. It'll take about two years to dismantle the massive cruise liner. A view from a porthole shows the wreck of the Costa Concordia as it's being towed on July 23. It'll take about two years to dismantle the massive cruise liner.



The Costa Concordia cruise ship sits in front of the harbor of Giglio Island after it was refloated using air tanks attached to its sides on Tuesday, July 22. Environmental concerns prompted the decision to undertake the expensive and difficult process of refloating the ship rather than taking it apart on site. The Costa Concordia cruise ship sits in front of the harbor of Giglio Island after it was refloated using air tanks attached to its sides on Tuesday, July 22. Environmental concerns prompted the decision to undertake the expensive and difficult process of refloating the ship rather than taking it apart on site.



The ship's name appears above the water on Monday, July 21. The ship is expected to arrive in Genoa on Sunday, August 27.The ship's name appears above the water on Monday, July 21. The ship is expected to arrive in Genoa on Sunday, August 27.



Tugboats pull the Costa Concordia after the first stage of the refloating operation on Wednesday, July 16. Tugboats pull the Costa Concordia after the first stage of the refloating operation on Wednesday, July 16.



A small boat passes by the wreckage on Tuesday, July 15.A small boat passes by the wreckage on Tuesday, July 15.



Water is expelled from the caissons hooked onto the Costa Concordia on Monday, July 14. The ship will be towed north to the port in Genoa, Italy.Water is expelled from the caissons hooked onto the Costa Concordia on Monday, July 14. The ship will be towed north to the port in Genoa, Italy.



Thirty-two people died when the 114,000-ton vessel, seen here on July 14, ran aground off Giglio in January 2012.Thirty-two people died when the 114,000-ton vessel, seen here on July 14, ran aground off Giglio in January 2012.



In December 2013, crews managed to rotate the ship into an upright position.In December 2013, crews managed to rotate the ship into an upright position.



To float the ship, seen here on Thursday, June 26, crews attached 30 steel tanks to fill with compressed air.To float the ship, seen here on Thursday, June 26, crews attached 30 steel tanks to fill with compressed air.



Ship captain Francesco Schettino, left, returned to the Concordia in February for the first time since he ran the liner aground. He is on trial on charges of manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board. He denies wrongdoing.Ship captain Francesco Schettino, left, returned to the Concordia in February for the first time since he ran the liner aground. He is on trial on charges of manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board. He denies wrongdoing.



Experts inspect the ship's damage in January. They boarded the vessel to collect new evidence, focusing on the ship's bridge and the onboard elevators.Experts inspect the ship's damage in January. They boarded the vessel to collect new evidence, focusing on the ship's bridge and the onboard elevators.



The wreckage of the Costa Concordia cruise ship sits near the harbor of Giglio on Tuesday, September 17, after a salvage crew rolled the ship off its side. The wreckage of the Costa Concordia cruise ship sits near the harbor of Giglio on Tuesday, September 17, after a salvage crew rolled the ship off its side.



The ship had been lying on its side for 20 months off the island of Giglio. Here, members of the U.S. company Titan Salvage and the Italian marine contractor Micoperi pass by the wreckage.The ship had been lying on its side for 20 months off the island of Giglio. Here, members of the U.S. company Titan Salvage and the Italian marine contractor Micoperi pass by the wreckage.



Damage to the right side of the ship is apparent in September.Damage to the right side of the ship is apparent in September.



Using a vast system of steel cables and pulleys, maritime engineers work on Monday, September 16, to hoist the ship's massive hull off the reef where it capsized.Using a vast system of steel cables and pulleys, maritime engineers work on Monday, September 16, to hoist the ship's massive hull off the reef where it capsized.



The project to upright the Costa Concordia continues on September 16. The nearly $800 million effort reportedly is the largest maritime salvage operation ever.The project to upright the Costa Concordia continues on September 16. The nearly $800 million effort reportedly is the largest maritime salvage operation ever.



A water line marks the former level of the stricken Costa Concordia as the salvaging operation continues on September 16. The procedure, known as parbuckling, has never been carried out on a vessel as large as Costa Concordia before.A water line marks the former level of the stricken Costa Concordia as the salvaging operation continues on September 16. The procedure, known as parbuckling, has never been carried out on a vessel as large as Costa Concordia before.



Members of Titan and Micoperi work at the wreck site early on September 16. Members of Titan and Micoperi work at the wreck site early on September 16.



Technicians work to salvage the half-submerged ship in July 2013.Technicians work to salvage the half-submerged ship in July 2013.



Giant hollow boxes have been attached to the side of the ship, seen here in May 2013. Attempts to refloat the ship will be aided by the compartments.Giant hollow boxes have been attached to the side of the ship, seen here in May 2013. Attempts to refloat the ship will be aided by the compartments.



A commemorative plaque honoring the victims of the cruise disaster is unveiled in Giglio on January 14, 2013.A commemorative plaque honoring the victims of the cruise disaster is unveiled in Giglio on January 14, 2013.



Survivors, grieving relatives and locals release lanterns into the sky in Giglio after a minute of silence on January 13, 2013, marking the one-year anniversary of the shipwreck. The 32 lanterns -- one for each of the victims -- were released at 9:45 p.m. local time, the moment of impact.Survivors, grieving relatives and locals release lanterns into the sky in Giglio after a minute of silence on January 13, 2013, marking the one-year anniversary of the shipwreck. The 32 lanterns -- one for each of the victims -- were released at 9:45 p.m. local time, the moment of impact.



A man holds an Italian flag on his balcony overlooking the port of Giglio on January 13, 2013.A man holds an Italian flag on his balcony overlooking the port of Giglio on January 13, 2013.



A man works in front of the shipwreck on January 12, 2013.A man works in front of the shipwreck on January 12, 2013.



A couple walks along the port of Giglio at night on January 12, 2013.A couple walks along the port of Giglio at night on January 12, 2013.



A man sits in his boat in front of the half-submerged cruise ship on January 8, 2013.A man sits in his boat in front of the half-submerged cruise ship on January 8, 2013.



Cranes and floating decks surrounding the ship light up the dusk sky on January 9, 2013.Cranes and floating decks surrounding the ship light up the dusk sky on January 9, 2013.



Workers stand on the edge of the ship on January 8, 2013.Workers stand on the edge of the ship on January 8, 2013.



A crew passes by the hulking remains on January 7, 2013.A crew passes by the hulking remains on January 7, 2013.



People enjoy a day in the sun with a view of the cruise liner on July 1, 2012.People enjoy a day in the sun with a view of the cruise liner on July 1, 2012.



Military rescue workers approach the cruise liner on January 22, 2012.Military rescue workers approach the cruise liner on January 22, 2012.



Members of the Italian coast guard conduct a search-and-rescue mission on January 21, 2012.Members of the Italian coast guard conduct a search-and-rescue mission on January 21, 2012.



Rescue operations to search for missing people resumed on January 20, 2012, after being suspended for a third time as conditions caused the vessel to shift on the rocks.Rescue operations to search for missing people resumed on January 20, 2012, after being suspended for a third time as conditions caused the vessel to shift on the rocks.



The Costa Serena, the sister ship of the wrecked Costa Concordia, passes by on January 18, 2012.The Costa Serena, the sister ship of the wrecked Costa Concordia, passes by on January 18, 2012.



A bird flies overhead the Costa Concordia on January 18, 2012. Rescue operations were suspended as the ship slowly sank farther into the sea.A bird flies overhead the Costa Concordia on January 18, 2012. Rescue operations were suspended as the ship slowly sank farther into the sea.



The ship was sailing a few hundred meters off the rocky Tuscan coastline.The ship was sailing a few hundred meters off the rocky Tuscan coastline.



An Italian coast guard helicopter flies over Giglio's harbor on January 16, 2012.An Italian coast guard helicopter flies over Giglio's harbor on January 16, 2012.



Rescuers search the waters near the stricken ship on January 16, 2012.Rescuers search the waters near the stricken ship on January 16, 2012.



The Concordia, pictured on January 15, 2012, was on a Mediterranean cruise from Rome when it hit rocks off the coast of Giglio.The Concordia, pictured on January 15, 2012, was on a Mediterranean cruise from Rome when it hit rocks off the coast of Giglio.



The ship starts keeling over early on January 14, 2012. Evacuation efforts started promptly but were made "extremely difficult" by the position of the listing ship, officials said.The ship starts keeling over early on January 14, 2012. Evacuation efforts started promptly but were made "extremely difficult" by the position of the listing ship, officials said.



Rescued passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, on January 14, 2012. The Costa Concordia was carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members.Rescued passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, on January 14, 2012. The Costa Concordia was carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members.




The Costa Concordia disaster

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Photos: The Costa Concordia disasterPhotos: The Costa Concordia disaster



Morning testimony focused on the chain of command aboard the doomed cruise liner, with Schettino admitting to the court that his aim in sailing close to Giglio -- leading the ship to hit rocks -- was to "impress the passengers."


Earlier, he had denied that the ill-fated maneuver was to impress Moldovan dancer Domnica Cemortan.


'I didn't want to cause a panic'


On Tuesday, he blamed others for failures that led to the crash and 32 deaths, but on Wednesday, he said the ship was his responsibility alone. "As commander, I was second only to God," he told the court.


Schettino was pressed about why he waited more than an hour to give the order to abandon the ship, even though it was clearly an emergency situation with the engine rooms flooded and the ship listing.


He told the court, "I wanted to calm the passengers, I didn't want to cause a panic and have people start jumping into the water."


When pressed further, he said, "I waited to give the general emergency because I knew exactly how the ship would drift. I know the Concordia well. I wanted to make sure that the ship was closer to the island and then give the general emergency. The damage was already done."


Referring to his crew, he said, "I had 600 people who had never done a similar exercise with a ship in this position since the rules do not require it.


"And the words 'abandon ship' can be open to interpretation: Maybe people would jump into the sea. Instead, seeing that the ship was approaching the island anyway, I waited."


Captain confident about trial


Schettino -- who is charged with manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board -- denies wrongdoing. He faces up to 23 years in prison if convicted.


On Tuesday, he was defiant and combative as he answered the prosecutor's questions in a makeshift courtroom in the Teatro Moderno in the Tuscan town of Grosseto.


Speaking to CNN during a court break, he said he was "confident" about the way the trial was going.


"It is exhausting, but I think it is going well," Schettino said. "It is important because this is the only chance I have to tell my version of events."


The cruise liner capsized after it struck rocks off Italy's Giglio Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea on January 12, 2012. No one died on impact, but 32 lives were lost during the subsequent chaotic evacuation of about 4,200 people aboard the ship.


CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.



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