Five people have been convicted of manslaughter in a court in Italy following the sinking of the Costa Concordia last year.

The vessel sank off the island of Giglio in January 2012 with the loss of 32 lives.

Two officers, the helmsman, the head of cabin service and the head of the crisis team were given up to two years and ten months in jail for multiple manslaughter, negligence and shipwreck.

However, all five had agreed plea bargains and may avoid custodial sentences.

Capt Francesco Schettino, who is blamed for sailing too close to the island and causing te sinking, is being tried separately.

Schettino is charged with multiple manslaughter and abandoning the vessel before the vessel was evacuated.

His case will resume on September 23rd, and his request for a plea bargain has been rejected by the prosecution.

Capt Schettino faces a maximum 20 years in jail if found guilty.

He denies the charges and says that without his actions many more people would have died.