The captain of the stricken ship Costa Concordia has heard that his appeal against a 16-year prison sentence has been upheld.
The appeals court in Florence rejected Francesco Schettino’s appeal. Schettino was not in court when the verdict was announced.
He was seeking to overturn the conviction, while the prosecution wanted a longer prison term of 27 years.
The Costa Concordia ran aground and sank on his watch in January 2012 resulting in the deaths of 32 passengers.
In February last year, a panel of three judges ruled that his recklessness was to blame and convicted him of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident, abandoning ship before passengers and crew and other serious crimes.
“Captain Coward”, as he was dubbed in the Italian media, was sentenced to 16 years and one month.
The cruise ship had more than 4,200 people on board when it struck underwater rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio. Of the 32 dead, two bodies have never been found.
Despite having his appeal denied, Schettino will not be put in jail immediately pending a possible further appeal to the top body, the Court of Cassation.
In addition to his original prison sentence, Schettino was banned from public office from life and from working as a ship captain for five years.
