Prosecutors in South Korea are seeking the death penalty for the captain of the Sewol, the ferry that sunk in April claiming more than 300 lives.
Sixty-nine-year-old Captain Lee Joon-seok has been widely criticized for being one of the first to abandon ship.
Authorities say he did nothing to help the passengers as the ship sank.
Prosecutors are also seeking life sentences for the Sewol's first mate, second mate, and chief engineer.
The crew is charged with abandoning the ferry after repeatedly telling passengers to stay in their cabins.
About 30 people from the victims' families and civic groups have gathered in front of Gwangju District Court where the trial of the crew members is taking place.
"As a parent, I have to know the truth why my kid died. We demand the truth of the incident and hope the prosecutors seek maximum punishment to comfort my kid's soul."
The Sewol capsized and sank on April 16 on a routine journey from the mainland port of Incheon to the southern holiday island of Jeju.
Most of those killed were school children.
The court is scheduled to deliver rulings on the suspects early next month.
