The European Court of Strasbourg rejected Schettino’s appeal against the 16-year sentence for the Costa Concordia tragedy. “No violation of rights and freedoms is found,” claims the court.
10 years have passed since the tragedy of the Costa Concordia, during which 32 people lost their lives due to the sinking of the cruise ship of the Costa Cruises shipping company off the island of Giglio.
The news arrives months late that the European Court has rejected the appeal presented by Francesco Schettino, captain of the boat sentenced to 16 years for the death of passengers and crew members.
“The Court judges, in the light of all the elements in its possession, that the facts reported do not reveal any apparent violation of rights and freedoms “, ruled the Strasbourg Court. The appeal to the European court was presented in January 2018, after the Genoa Court of Appeal rejected the request for a review of the trial.
The lawyer Saverio Senese, who has represented Schettino in court for years, had argued that the sentences of the Italian courts were partly influenced by Schettino’s media exposure. Judge Alena Polackova is of a different opinion and did not find any violation of his human rights in the man’s legal case.
The Strasbourg decision, according to documents, dates back to January 13, 2022, one day after the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, but the sentence was delivered to the former captain’s lawyer only at the beginning of July and after a reminder from his lawyers. The Sienese lawyer asked the European Court for explanations, asking for “the details of the registered letter and the personal details of who would have collected it, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, since I have not received any letter dated 20 January 2022”.
The lawyer announces his intention to expose the case to the prosecutor, while the defense is still awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal presented. Schettino tried for multiple manslaughters, negligent injuries, shipwreck, and abandonment of ship is at the Roman prison of Rebibbia, where he benefits from permits for free exit.