Ex-Costa Concordia Captain Schettino: Possible Transition to Open Detention

Bild: wikipedia.de
Francesco Schettino, the former captain of the Costa Concordia, may soon see a relaxation of his prison sentence. Now 64 years old, Schettino was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2017 after the cruise ship sank off the Italian island of Giglio in 2012, resulting in 32 fatalities. A court hearing set for March 4, 2025, in Rome will determine whether he can transition to open detention.

The Costa Concordia disaster occurred in 2012 when the ship ran aground near Giglio following an unnecessary maneuver. With over 4,200 passengers onboard, Schettino abandoned the ship prematurely. The evacuation was poorly coordinated, leading to chaotic conditions that caused the loss of 32 lives and left many survivors traumatized. The Costa Concordia was deemed a total loss and was dismantled in Genoa after a recovery operation lasting more than two years.

Schettino was convicted of multiple counts of manslaughter and negligence. Survivors of the disaster and relatives of the victims have voiced strong criticism of the potential sentence relaxation for the former captain.