Trainee officer accused Francesco Schettino
The trainee officer Stefano Iannelli of the "Costa Concordia" on Nov 11 told the court in Grosseto that captain Schettino did not fall off the ship onto a lifeboat as he claimed, but jumped to safety.
He said: "We found a lifeboat. I jumped on, Schettino had jumped on just before me." His testimony would appear to corroborate accusations that the captain apparently headed ashore to ensure his own safety while people were still trapped aboard the ship.
Schettino insists that he slipped off the "Costa Concordia", which was already tilting at a 90-degree angle, and fell on to a lifeboat.
"We had formed a human chain, so as not to slip. I was part of the Tango India support team and we helped at least five injured people. When I could no longer see any passengers, I went with Schettino and four others and we found a lifeboat. I jumped on its roof, Schettino had jumped on just before me. As soon as the lifeboat set off, the ship rolled over and the deck we had been on sank underwater. On our way to shore we picked up passengers in the water", Iannelli said as he described the situation after the crash off Giglio on Jan 13, 2012.
The trainee officer Stefano Iannelli of the "Costa Concordia" on Nov 11 told the court in Grosseto that captain Schettino did not fall off the ship onto a lifeboat as he claimed, but jumped to safety.
He said: "We found a lifeboat. I jumped on, Schettino had jumped on just before me." His testimony would appear to corroborate accusations that the captain apparently headed ashore to ensure his own safety while people were still trapped aboard the ship.
Schettino insists that he slipped off the "Costa Concordia", which was already tilting at a 90-degree angle, and fell on to a lifeboat.
"We had formed a human chain, so as not to slip. I was part of the Tango India support team and we helped at least five injured people. When I could no longer see any passengers, I went with Schettino and four others and we found a lifeboat. I jumped on its roof, Schettino had jumped on just before me. As soon as the lifeboat set off, the ship rolled over and the deck we had been on sank underwater. On our way to shore we picked up passengers in the water", Iannelli said as he described the situation after the crash off Giglio on Jan 13, 2012.