Families of those who died in the South Korean ferry sinking arrive for the trial of the ship's crew.

It's the first day the court's expected to start hearing testimony.

This man, Captain Lee Joon-seok, as well as three senior officers, are charged with homicide. They could face the death sentence.

The other crew members are accused of negligence and abandoning ship.

The ferry, overloaded and travelling too fast, sank in April, killing more than 300, many of them high school students.

Lawyers for the crew argue that it was up to the coastguard to rescue the passengers, not them.

Passengers who survived the sinking are expected to give evidence during the trial.