Sohn Ji-tae said he later tried to kill himself after realising the number of casualties, CNN reported.

Defence lawyers say the crew barely managed to escape from the capsized vessel and blamed the owners for adding more passenger cabins to the 20-year-old ship.

Sohn's lawyer told the court that officials from the ferry company should be punished.

The defence claims the ferry tilted very quickly, sinking within 90 minutes, and that the crew had the constitutional right to evacuate.

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