Grosseto , Italy ( CNN ) -- Described by one lawyer Monday as looking `` like he walked straight out of a GQ magazine , '' the ex-captain of a shipwrecked cruise liner faced about a dozen of the survivors he 's accused of abandoning . It was the first time Francesco Schettino , 52 , had faced survivors since the luxury ship Costa Concordia ran aground in January , killing at least 32 people . Schettino , 52 , wore a black suit and tie at the preliminary hearing , which was held inside a theater in the Tuscan town of Grosseto . Accompanied by lawyers and technical consultants working on his behalf , the embattled former captain arrived 20 minutes early . `` He looked like he walked straight out of a GQ magazine , '' said John Arthur Eaves , an American lawyer who is representing 150 of the passengers . Schettino faces allegations of manslaughter , causing a shipwreck , abandoning ship , failing to report an accident to the coast guard and destroying a natural habitat . The ship , carrying 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members , turned on its side after striking rocks off the Italian island of Giglio on January 13 . According to passengers ' accounts , chaos ensued on the night of the shipwreck , as guests rushed to fill lifeboats and escape . Some crew members helped passengers and then jumped overboard , passengers said ; remaining crew members seemed helpless to handle the melee . Related story : Port Authority to captain : 'Get on board damn it ! ' Like all preliminary hearings in Italian courts , Monday 's hearing was closed to the news media . But eventually , reports about the hearing made their way out of the theater . One survivor approached Schettino at the hearing , saying he hoped the `` truth would come out soon . '' The captain shook the man 's hand and replied , `` Yes , the truth must be ascertained , '' Italian media reported . During the hearing , Schettino was seated on the theater stage with eight other defendants under investigation in the case , including his second in command , Ciro Ambrosio , officer Salvatore Ursino and Roberto Ferrarini , the head of the Costa Cruises fleet . Also in attendance were about 12 former passengers , some of whom contributed to the theatrical theme outside the hall , known as Teatro Moderno . Passengers turned the area around the theater into a stage for impromptu news conferences for an international group of about 150 journalists . Several German passengers said German newspapers had flown them to Grosseto . Dozens of police patrolled the area . Schettino 's lawyer , Paolo Bastianini , told CNN his client had received death threats . The case centers on several questions , including why it allegedly took Schettino more than an hour to issue an order to abandon ship and why he allegedly left the vessel before all passengers had abandoned it . Related story : Luxury cruise turns into nightmare . Retired Capt . Fredrik J. van Wijnen , a friend of Schettino 's and a representative of the Confederation of European Shipmasters ' Associations , told reporters that Schettino felt terrible for the loss of life . Though the captain made a mistake by coming too close to Giglio , his maneuvers after the accident saved thousands of lives , van Wijnen told CNN . Schettino , who was released from house arrest in July , was fired last week by the Costa Crociere parent company , Italy 's official ANSA news agency reported . He has said that he was wrongfully fired and that his actions prevented additional deaths . During the hearing , which is expected to last up to 10 days , a judge is expected to determine what evidence is admissible for an eventual trial , including the on-board ship data recorder . An attorney for Schettino raised objections about an expert and asked that the inquiry be extended while he was brought in from Jakarta , but the request was denied . Efforts to secure the wreckage are expected to be completed within 10 days , ANSA reported . The next phase will involve putting floating platforms inside the half-sunken ship . Salvagers plan to remove the wreckage by summer , it said . Journalist Barbie Nadeau reported from Grosseto ; CNN 's Hada Messia reported from Rome ; CNN 's Josh Levs contributed to this report .
NEW : Lawyer for passengers compares ex-captain 's suit to fashion magazine attire . Schettino is accused of manslaughter , abandoning ship , causing shipwreck . A judge will decide what 's admissible at a trial ; 32 others being investigated are in court . Francesco Schettino was captain of the Costa Concordia when it ran aground in July , killing three .