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Former captain of Concordia cruise ship Francesco Schettino gave his first testimony at the trial ongoing in the Italian city of Grosseto on Tuesday, and the chief prosecutor announced he would ask a 20-year jail sentence for him, Italian media reported.
Schettino, 53, faces charges of manslaughter, causing shipwreck and abandoning ship during evacuation for the major shipwreck occurred off the coasts of Giglio Island on Jan. 13, 2012.
Thirty-two people died in the disaster, after the huge luxury ship hit rocks during the night and capsized with more than 4,200 people on board.
Speaking for the first time before the court, Schettino testified he ordered the Concordia to approach the Giglio Island just to give passengers a better view, because such a manoeuvre would "promote the commercial side of the trip," according to ANSA news agency.
He denied rumors that he did so to impress Domnica Cemortan, the Moldavian woman who was at the helm of the ship with him at the time of the crash.
Schettino also said the Costa Crociere Company was not informed of the change of route.
"The captain of the ship has the power to chart the route, but no obligation to inform the owner and, considering the various possibilities, sailing along the coast has always been performed," Schettino said to the court.
"In that case, since it was only a matter of coming closer (to the island), I alerted no one," he added.
The ship's owner company had accused the captain of having made an "unapproved" change of route, thus causing the maritime disaster.
For his part, Schettino blamed the helmsman for the wrong manoeuvre and added he had not realize they had got too closed to the island until the cruise ship impacted the rocks.
He also blamed other members of his crew of misconduct during the hearing, and accepted only a partial responsibility for the shipwreck. He has always denied the criminal charges.
Speaking on the sidelines of Tuesday's hearing, chief prosecutor Francesco Verusio revealed he would ask a prison term of at least 20 years in prison for Schettino, Italian media reported.
The captain's testimony lasted some seven hours on Tuesday, and would continue on Wednesday.
Schettino is currently the only defendant remained in the Grosseto trial, after five other members of the crew and Costa Crociere officials reached plea bargains.
The first grade court's verdict would be expected in January.
The body of the presumed last victim of the shipwreck was found early in November aboard the Concordia wreck, which is currently docked at the northern port of Genoa for scrapping. Enditem
