Judges have allowed thousands of plaintiffs to join the case. They include not only passengers, but also local authorities, environmental groups and residents of Giglio.
BY NICK RIGILLO | DPA
ROME — A court in Italy on Saturday appointed three experts tasked with studying the Costa Concordia’s black box and the cruise liner’s final movements before running aground near the island of Giglio on Jan. 13.
At a preliminary hearing in the Italian city of Grosseto packed with survivors and lawyers, a university professor, a captain of the Italian navy and a coast guard admiral were given three months to supply judges with their expert report.
Judges also agreed to introduce one more charge — causing environmental damage in a protected area — to the existing charges leveled at captain Francesco Schettino and eight other crew members and representatives of Costa Crociere, the company which owns the Concordia.
The charges include multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all of its around 4,200 passengers and crew had been evacuated following the shipwreck.
“We hope that an examination of the black box will allow us to obtain new momentum to our investigation and perhaps ascertain new responsibilities,” prosecutor Francesco Verusio told reporters ahead of the hearing.
Costa Crociere has blamed Schettino for the accident, saying he took an unauthorized route which led the 114,500-tonne vessel dangerously close to Giglio.
Schettino, who is currently under house arrest near Naples, and the other defendants did not attend the hearing, which was closed to television crews. Schettino’s lawyer said the captain feared for his life if he were to appear.
Judges have allowed thousands of plaintiffs to join the case. They include not only passengers, but also local authorities, environmental groups and residents of Giglio.