Italian Court Accepts Plea Bargains in Costa Concordia Trial
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STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images(GROSSETO, Italy) — Five employees of the parent company of the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that sank in January 2012, have received sentences in an Italian court.
The court in Grosseto, Italy, the closest city to the wreck, accepted plea bargains for five Costa Crociere employees. All five were convicted of multiple manslaughter and negligence, and received sentences between 2 years and 10 months down to one year and 11 months.
According to BBC News, two officers, the helmsman, the head of cabin service and the head of the crisis team were sentenced.
The captain of the vessel, Capt Francesco Schettino, is being tried separately. He is charged with is manslaughter and abandoning his vessel with thousands still on board.
In all 32 passengers and crew were killed when the ship hit rocks of the tiny Italian island of Giglio.
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