‘Serious indications’ of cruise ship captain’s guilt—judge

A luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on its side after running aground the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Saturday (January 14, 2012), sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel. GREGORIO BORGIA/AP

ROME—The judge who released the captain of the Italian Costa Concordia liner into house arrest said Wednesday there was mounting evidence against the officer’s claims that he had tried to rejoin the stricken vessel.

The fact that other crew and officers stayed on board to try to evacuate the passengers refuted the captain’s claim that he could not oversee the operation from the vessel, said Judge Valeria Montesarchio, media reported.

The crewmembers, 296 of them are Filipinos, have been commended for ensuring the evacuation of passengers.