The South Morning Herald said lawyers representing the 15 surviving crew members of the Sewol ferry are facing the gargantum task of building a convincing evidence to vindicate them from the public following the sinking of the South Korean ferry. The lawyers, who are part of the country's legal system, might not be able to carry out the task of mounting a convincing defense for the ship's crew, who had resorted to saving themselves by jumping off the ship, leaving majority of its passengers, mostly children, in their cabins dressed in life jackets as per earlier orders.
The Sewol reportedly sank off in an otherwise mundane journey from Incheon to Jeju Island. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of children and teachers, who were on board on a high-school field trip. From the 476 passengers and crew on board, SMH said only 172 were rescued.
The Australian paper said that the absence of a determined defense could only mean that the crew may never provide their side of the story in court.
One of the lawyers, who appear for one of the accused in closed-door hearings to decide on the arrest warrants' validity, said that he himself is at odds on fulfilling his obligation and that the theory regarding attorneys who could not make any difference.
"It is a burden for every lawyer, because the crime is something that can hardly be forgiven. It's not just that one person died. There were hundreds. All I could say to the judges is 'we will await your wise decision'. That was it," he confided.
He and 19 other lawyers in Mokpo had made an appearance for the crew as per court appointment, according to attorneys and sources who had direct knowledge of the procedures.
SMH said the ferry's captain and three senior crew has since been charged with homicide last week. Two others were lodged with fleeing and abandoning ship. Nine others were charged with negligence, the paper added.
