Domnica Cemortan, Moldovan Dancer, Says she was Concordia Captain’s ‘Lover’

The Costa Concordia ship lies on its side on the Tuscan Island of Giglio, Italy, early Monday morning, Sept. 16, 2013. An international team of engineers is trying a never-before attempted strategy to set upright the luxury liner, which capsized after striking a reef in 2012 killing 32 people. AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Domnica Cemortan, the Moldovan dancer who was with Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino on the night the ship sank off Italy’s coast, said she was in a relationship with the captain during his trial.

The BBC reported on Tuesday that Cemortan admitted she was his “lover.” She was on the bridge of the cruise ship when it sank January 2012, killing 32.

Schettino faces manslaughter, abandoning ship, and causing a maritime disaster charges in the case.

Cemortan was deemed a key witness.

During the incident, she said that at first everything was normal but then Schettino was heard “speaking angrily, yelling, to another officer,” according to CNN.

After that, she heard alarms go off on the bridge.