It could take experts three months to analyse the voice recorder from the Costa Concordia, the prosecutor leading the Italian investigation into the shipwreck said.

Francesco Verusio spoke to state radio as hundreds of lawyers, consultants, former passengers and crew arrived in Grosseto, Tuscany, today for the initial evidence hearing. There are so many participants at the closed-door hearing that a local theatre is being used.

Mr Verusio said he expects the day-long hearing to be taken up by "procedural battles".

Lawyers for the captain Francesco Schettino, who is accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship, slipped into the theatre through a back door.

Schettino denies wrongdoing. Thirty-two people either died or are missing and presumed dead in the January 13 shipwreck.

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