Probe into Costa Concordia disaster begins

EXPERTS have started reviewing the evidence into the Costa Concordia disaster, which left 32 people dead, marking the start of legal proceedings into the tragedy, lawyers for the victims said.

A judge has appointed four experts who on 9 March will start an investigation into the incident, which happened when the liner ran into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio, to help the court in deciding its verdict in the criminal courts.

The incident, which happened in January, left 25 dead with seven more people missing and presumed dead.

Captain Francesco Schettino, who made an unauthorised diversion from his programmed route, has been placed under house arrest, accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning his ship.

Lawyers representing victims and their families said reports by the four experts, appointed at the hearing in the Tuscan city Grosetto, are due to be presented on 21 July. Law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing dozens of passengers and crew, mainly British, who were on board.

Head of travel law Clive Garner said: “Our clients have been through what was a horrendous experience and many regard themselves as lucky to be alive.

“We and our clients view this court hearing as the first step towards getting some essential answers as to how this tragedy was allowed to occur.

“Today’s hearing dealt with preliminary issues including the instruction of experts and timetabling of the next steps in the criminal process.

“It is now crucial that the experts’ reports are prepared in time for the next hearing in July. The experts will have access to all available evidence from the ship, the coast guard, the police, witnesses and the Costa cruise line.

“Their conclusions should assist the Italian court in reaching its conclusions in relation to criminal charges.”