Trial opens over SKorea's worst oil spill

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — The trial of five people accused of negligence in South Korea's worst oil spill, which has devastated marine farms and destroyed livelihoods, got underway Friday, officials said.

The defendants were not present since the judges, prosecutors and lawyers only discussed court procedures, a court official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The trial is being held in Seosan, 90 kilometres (54 miles) southwest of Seoul and near the area worst hit by last month's spill. The next hearing will be on February 11.

The court was packed with people from the area affected by the spill. Outside, security officers were involved in a shoving match with about 300 people who could not get in the courtroom, Yonhap news agency reported.

Scores of marine...