GROSSETO, Italy — The captain of an Italian cruise ship that wrecked in January, killing 32 people, entered court Monday to hear evidence against him as a dozen survivors looked on.

It was the first time that passengers who made it through the Costa Concordia disaster saw Francesco Schettino face-to-face.

He faces allegations of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship, failing to report an accident to the coast guard and destroying a natural habitat, a prosecutor said earlier this year. The ship struck rocks and turned on its side off the Italian island of Giglio on January 13.

Schettino was released from house arrest in July. He was fired last week by the Costa Crociere parent company, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The hearings that began Monday will end with the judge determining what evidence is admissible for an eventual trial.

They’re taking place in a theater called Moderno, in the Tuscan town of Grosseto.

Schettino arrived 20 minutes early and entered through a side door, ANSA reported.

“Schettino’s second in command, Ciro Ambrosio, officer Salvatore Ursino and the head of the Costa Cruises fleet, Roberto Ferrarini, who are also being investigated, arrived at the Tuscan court with their attorneys,” ANSA said.

The hearings include testimony and information on the contents of the ship’s black box data recorder.

An attorney for Schettino raised objections about an expert Monday and asked that the inquiry be extended while he was brought in from Jakarta, but the request was denied.

The proceedings are closed to the public. Media are gathering details from attorneys and onlookers during breaks.

One survivor approached Schettino in the courtroom, 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.

The hearing is expected to last seven to 10 days.

— Journalist Barbie Nadeau reported from Grosseto; CNN’s Hada Messiah reported from Rome; CNN’s Josh Levs contributed to this report.