Latest news with #MSCMagnifica
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Irish-based IT worker acquitted of killing wife on cruise ship during family holiday off coast of Italy eight years ago
CRUISE ship kill accused Daniel Belling has been acquitted on appeal. The Irish-based IT worker was recently sentenced to 26 years in prison in Italy after being convicted of A Belling, who has always protested his innocence, was sentenced in his absence last year for slaying Irish resident Xing Lei Li, 38, on a cruise ship and the 'destruction' of her body. The dad - who has been living in Coolock, north And last night it emerged the Court of Assizes of Appeal of Rome had overturned the sentence 'because the fact does not exist'. READ MORE NEWS Tragic wife Xing-Li vanished two days after she boarded the MSC Magnifica at the Cops launched a probe into whether her remains were thrown overboard by Belling. He denied murdering her and spent 14 months in an Italian jail before he was released and returned to Ireland in 2018. The Court of Assizes in Rome had accused the husband of throwing his wife's body in the sea after locking it in a trolley. Most read in Irish News A trial was held in his absence, with Belling convicted by an Italian court of murdering Xing-Li on a cruise ship. The indictment accused the husband of 'causing the death of his wife, who was travelling with him and two young children and in order to achieve impunity for the crime just committed, he disposed of the corpse, hiding it or otherwise causing its destruction'. Gardai roll out new tool in crackdown on e-scooters Prosecutors had requested a 24-year sentence for Belling, who is originally from But the court in Rome handed down a 26 year jail term. Belling, who has always denied involvement in the matter, had pledged an appeal, with his sentence now dramatically overturned. 1 Belling has always denied involvement Credit: Italian broadcaster Chi L'Ha Visto
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
German-born Irish resident acquitted of murder of wife on Italian cruise ship
A German man living in Ireland who was accused of killing his wife on a cruise ship has been acquitted of murder. Daniel Belling, 49, who has been living in Ireland for years, was convicted in Italy of the murder missing wife Xing-Li, 38, while they were on a Mediterranean cruise in February 2017. Belling, who did not travel to Italy and was convicted in his absence, had been sentenced to 26 years in prison - but the charge has now been thrown out in Rome's Court of Appeal. Mr Belling himself first informed the Irish Mirror of the bombshell decision, and told us of his delight that he is once again a free man. 'I was just acquitted in Italy. The lawyer said they have it today but in Italy the process of having it written out comes later. 'I'm very happy, yes. Oh it's great, I am still a bit muted. I cannot yet express how I feel,' he said. 'Hopefully it stays that way and the other side doesn't challenge it and it goes to a third round of back and forth.' Mr Belling admitted to this paper that he has been having difficulty in getting a job in Ireland - but believes his acquittal will now end his challenges. 'Now I can finally get a job I guess. It was a risk for them, how could they hire someone when this person was in danger of going away somewhere or whatever,' he said. Asked if he knew what had happened to his wife - who seemingly vanished from the cruise ship, Mr Belling said he didn't know. Telling us he was 'cloudy in the mind,' he said 'I don't know, I don't know,' as we asked what he thought might have happened to her, or if he believed she may still be alive. On Thursday, Judges of the Court of Appeal in Rome acquitted Mr Belling after his lawyer Lugigi Conti argued it was a 'trial based on feelings' and said there was no element to support his guilt. It comes after Mr Belling previously told us that he believed his wife was probably dead. 'She would not have left the children like this. Why would she not come back? It doesn't make any sense,' he said. Mr Belling, Ms Xing and their two children boarded cruise ship MSC Magnifica in the Italian port of Civitavecchia on February 9, 2017 - but later crew members noticed that she was missing when they did a head count. Mr Belling, who previously spent 14 months on remand in an Italian prison before he was released and returned to Ireland in 2018, said he believes his wife could have been killed because she had information someone didn't want out. 'I think (someone) may have killed her. Maybe she knew something. 'I don't know, she just said on the cruise 'I will be back, I need to do some business. She had said that to me earlier before too so I was just like ok. 'That was the day before,' he said. But later in our conversation, Mr Belling suggested his wife had psychological issues - and this could have played a part. 'I think she was depressive in her anger management issues so I think it's something psychological also,' he said. 'I don't know why she wouldn't come back. Like, is she in a coma maybe?' Asked how he was coping with the disappearance of his wife and if he was upset, Mr Belling said he was, but is no longer. 'It was (upsetting). But not anymore,' he said. Italian prosecutors alleged that Mr Belling killed his wife and disposed of her body at sea. Asked if he was a killer Mr Belling responded to us: 'No I am not.' He also said that he doesn't know how to respond to those who may believe he murdered his wife. 'I don't know what to say to that,' he said. But he said people cannot make their own judgement when he says the full facts of what happened are not out there. 'One cannot have an opinion about any court case where one is not involved." Mr Belling was previously spared a jail sentence when he appeared before Dublin's Circuit Court and had pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly inducing the Bank of Ireland to providing a mortgage loan of €112,500 on 13 March 2014. On five other occasions, Belling used false documents on dates between July 1, 2013 and January 27, 2015 to attempt to apply for loans. Mr Belling claimed in court that his wife was behind the scheme - though presiding judge Martin Nolan said he would take that explanation 'with a pinch of salt'. Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Mr Belling insisted that he was telling the truth - though he admits he cannot prove it, given the fact that his wife is missing. Mr Belling previously told an Italian judge that he and his wife had fought and that she wanted to "quit the trip". According to reports, he claimed his wife left the ship when he and the children joined a shore excursion. Speaking in Italy after his release in 2018, Mr Belling at the time said he believed she had arranged her disappearance. He described her as a "cruel person" for allowing him to spend 14 months in jail for a crime "I did not commit".
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Cruise ship season 2025 wraps up with 20,000 tourists visiting the Port of Albany in seven months
Albany's 2024-25 cruise season has drawn to a close with tens of thousands of visitors deposited in the port city since October and a special few leaving with a thoughtful gift from the Men's Shed. The departure of the Insignia last Wednesday represented the last of the region's boat-bound tourists, with almost 20,000 visitors landing in the Great Southern from 18 vessels in the seven months since the season's October beginning. The captain of each cruise vessel making its maiden voyage to the Port of Albany was presented with a plaque made by the Albany Men's Shed made with timber from the port's former deep-water jetty. Southern Ports chief executive Keith Wilks said the majority of the ships were visiting for the first time. 'Sixty per cent of our cruise ship visits this season were the first time those vessels had come into our ports, which shows just how popular our regions are becoming,' he said. 'Every cruise visit is another chance to showcase our spectacular regions to new groups of visitors and we're proud of the role we play in that. 'Cruise visits result in money being spent in local economies and many passengers come back for longer visits after getting a first taste of the region. 'There is so much for tourists to discover and see throughout the Great Southern, Goldfields-Esperance and South West regions that it is impossible to do it all during just one visit.' Significant numbers of tourists explored the Great Southern on their cruise ship maiden voyage to the region, with the Crown Princess delivering 3000 in November, the MSC Magnifica offering more than 2000 in March and 1800 embarking from the Westerdam in December. 'Having so many new vessels include Albany on their itineraries is a reflection on the fact it is one of WA's premier cruise destinations and the industry is continuing to bounce back strongly,' Mr Wilks said. 'Because cruise visits often lead to visitors returning at a later date it's difficult to measure their full impact on our regional economies, but it's certainly overwhelmingly positive.' The 2023-24 cruise season made a $385m economic impact throughout WA, according to data from the Australian Cruise Association.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Tauranga wraps up cruise season with 91 ships, boosts local economy
Tourism Bay of Plenty said Tauranga has had a strong 2024/25 cruise season, with 91 ship arrivals bringing thousands of passengers and crew into the region, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said. 'These visits provide a significant boost to our local economy, supporting hospitality, retail, tourism operators, and transport providers.' Nathan said Tauranga was consistently rated the best port experience in Tauranga by visiting cruise lines. 'The vibrancy that cruise visitors bring is felt right across the city, from our waterfront to our town centres, and we're proud to be a key gateway for cruise travel in New Zealand.' Final tallies for ship visits and the full economic impact were still being confirmed, but Nathan said as of March 18, the 2024/25 season brought an estimated 143,279 passengers and 62,804 crew to our shores - more than 206,000 people. 'These provisional figures are in line with recent seasons and represent a significant contribution to our local visitor economy,' Nathan said. 'There were a few itinerary changes due to weather, such as a cancelled berth from the Westerdam and adjusted schedules for the Crown Princess and MSC Magnifica, but the season remained strong overall. 'Throughout the season, ambassadors and staff were proud to showcase the best of the coastal Bay of Plenty to guests from around the world.' The Insignia will make a late-season call on May 27 ahead of winter.
