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              Captain, Crew Face Verdict in Deadly Ferry Disaster

   by VOA News

   A court in South Korea is set to rule on whether the captain of a ferry
   that capsized killing more than 300 people is guilty of culpable
   homicide.

   A three-judge panel in the southern city of Gwangju will hand down
   verdicts and sentencing on Tuesday in the trial of captain Lee
   Joon-seok as well as 14 crew members.

   Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for the captain, who is
   accused of murder for his conduct on the Sewol ferry that sank on April
   16.

   South Korea has not carried out a death penalty since 1997, and the
   death penalty has essentially meant life imprisonment.

   Several of the survivors testified that when the ship's troubles began,
   they were instructed over loud speakers to stay where they were, rather
   than to evacuate. The ship eventually capsized, trapping hundreds of
   passengers inside.

   Nearly 250 of those who died were high school students on a trip.

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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/captain-crew-face-verdict-in-deadly-f
   erry-disaster/2515524.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/captain-crew-face-verdict-in-deadly-ferry-disaster/2515524.html