News Digest

Mediterranean boat tragedy: Captain of the ship that sank appears in court

The man in charge of the boat which capsized in the Mediterranean killing at least 800 appeared in court on Friday. Tunisian Mohammed Ali Malek, 27, is accused of multiple first degree homicides, causing a shipwreck and people trafficking. He sat emotionless behind a glass screen, as TV crews including Sky News were allowed inside the court. Authorities fear that up to 920 migrants died when the ship carrying them sunk in waters between Libya and the Italian island of Lampedusa. Malek was one of only 28 survivors, and Italian investigators say the tragedy was caused by him ramming his boat by accident into a cargo ship, which had gone to its rescue.

He says he was like all the others, a migrant on board the fishing boat and that he paid a sum of money for the trip to the Italian coast.

Malek’s lawyer Massimo Ferrante

This then caused those on board the overcrowded vessel to move around causing it to capsize, said prosecutors. A 25-year-old Syrian, Mahmud Bikhit, who prosecutors believe was a crew member, has denied involvement and accused Malek of being in charge of the vessel. His lawyer Giuseppe Russo told Sky News: “My client is completely innocent - he can’t feel remorse for a crime he has not committed. He was a passenger and therefore a victim and should not be accused in this way." Some of survivors are giving evidence in court.