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Trial of Concordia captain could be delayed by strike
The trial of the captain of the Costa Concordia which sank last year is due to start this afternoon but could be delayed due to a nationwide strike by Italian lawyers.
Captain Francsico Schettino is charged with multiple manslaughter and of abandoning his ship after it hit a rock off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012 and tilted on its side.
Prosecutors will argue that Schettino steered the ship, which was carrying more than 4,000 passengers, too close to the shore in order to salute people he knew on the island.
He is also accused of leaving the ship before all passengers had been evacuated.
Schettino denies the charges and his defence is expected to argue that no single person was to blame for the accident. Immediately after the accident, the captain claimed he moved the ship closer to the shore to save lives.
His trial will take place in Grosseto, a city 90 miles north-west of Rome, which is nearest to the site of the wreck. However, the trial could be delayed by a week if his lawyers join a strike due to start today.
The Concordia still lies partially submerged off the coast of Giglio and local authorities are seeking €80 million to make up for alleged lost revenue due to the eyesore.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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