Prosecutors have called for the death penalty for Lee Joon-seok, the captain of the ferry which sank on April 16 killing more than 300 people, mostly high school students on a school trip.

Prosecutors on Monday asked the Gwangju District Court to impose sentences ranging from life in prison to 15 years behind bars for 14 other crewmembers who abandoned ship the moment the ferry started to sink, leaving the passengers to their fate.

They are being charged with homicide, negligence and violating rescue procedures.

Prosecutors sought life in prison for the first and second mates and the chief engineer. Eleven other low-ranking crewmen, who were indicted for negligence, could face 15 to 30 years in jail.

"Lee failed to fulfill his duty as a captain, who is supposed to be the last one to leave the ship," a prosecutor said. "After telling passengers to wait in the cabins, he did not make any effort to save the passengers, only to avoid the danger to himself."

Lee said in his final plea to the court that he committed a "grave crime" and apologized to the dead. He added that he did not intend to kill the passengers.

Sentencing is expected on Nov. 11.