South Korea ends search of doomed ferry as verdicts due

SEOUL - South Korea said on Tuesday it was calling off a search for nine passengers still missing from a ferry that sank in April killing more than 300 people, as a court prepared to rule in a trial at which the vessel's captain may face the death penalty.

A three-judge panel in the southern city of Gwangju will hand down verdicts and sentencing later in the prosecution of ferry captain Lee Joon-seok, 68, as well as 14 crew members, who face jail terms if convicted.