The captain of the Sewol and three other key crew members were indicted on charges of homicide Thursday. The 11 other crew members were indicted for manslaughter.
The four key sailors — the captain, chief mate, second mate and the chief engineer — were charged with homicide out of willful negligence. All crewmen are accused of violating the rescue rule and negligence resulting in death.
“(The investigation team) charged the captain with homicide because he did not take any measures in the whole process from veering to passengers’ evacuation despite being responsible for operating the ferry and the safety of the passengers,” said the investigators in an interim report.

