Didn't alter train departure time (3)

(ANSA) - Trani, July 18 - The station master in the Puglia town of Andria, Vito Piccarreta, on Monday told prosecutors it was not him who altered the departure time of one of two trains that crashed last Tuesday killing 23 people, his lawyer told reporters. The train is recorded as leaving Andria for Corato at 10:59, but this time is believed to have been altered by pen, leaving what was underneath scribbled out. "I didn't write that," the station master told prosecutors, referring to the scribbled-out writing, according to persons present at the questioning.
    Piccarreta however insisted that the train left Andria at that time, 10:59, and not earlier as would have been possible if a mistake had been made. The station master is said to have volunteered the information and did not wait to be asked if it has him who had scribbled out the underlying writing, according to the presons present at the questioning.
    Piccareta said he had "no doubt" that the train left at the time that was recorded on the time sheet, and that is, in fact, 10:59.
    Trani prosecutors are trying to establish if it was Piccarreta or his colleague at Corato, Alessio Porcelli, who made the fatal mistake in letting the train onto the single track while the other one was coming the other way. Porcelli will be questioned later today.