The Court of Appeal of Sassari, overturning the first instance sentence, today acquitted the commander of the Euroferry Malta cargo ship, Yvanov Tihomir, and the first deck officer, Nikolay Rumenov Atanaso , accused of manslaughter for the death of the Bulgarian sailor of 24 years old, Yordanov Denislav Ivlaylov , victim of an accident on board, on 7 October 2019, while the ship was off the coast of Porto Torres.
At first instance the two defendants were sentenced to 1 year and 4 months in prison , plus a provisional amount of 60 thousand euros, for manslaughter, injuries to two sailors who were injured, and for violations of workplace safety regulations. The Attorney General Roberta Pischedda had requested confirmation of the sentence, together with the civil lawyers, Gian Marco Luciano and Vanni Luciano, representing the victim's family and the injured.
The accident occurred on the cargo ship due to a freak wave that crashed into the ship : Yordanov Denislav Ivlaylov was thrown against a metal grate and died from the injuries sustained. The Court of Appeal acquitted the two seafarers on the two most serious charges and instead convicted them of violating safety regulations and other proven contraventions. No compensation was awarded to the injured sailors and the victim's family members.
(Unioneonline/D)
