A court is to hear evidence in the trial of the captain and 14 crew members of a South Korean ferry that sank in April, killing 304 people, the majority of whom were teenagers on a school trip.
The crew is charged with negligence and abandoning ship. The captain and three officers are also charged with "homicide through willful negligence".
Captain Lee Joon-sok’s lawyer suggested he would contest the murder charge because there was no intent to kill.
The Sewol ferry capsized and sank on April 16, with 476 people on board. So far, divers have recovered 293 bodies, the latest – that of a female passenger – on Monday. 11 people are still unaccounted for.
Prosecutors say the ship capsized because it was overloaded, with cargo improperly stowed. Five executives from ferry operator Chonghaejin Marine are also facing charges.
