BP spill trial told it 'put profits over safety'

BP has been accused of putting profits before safety on the first day of a civil trial in New Orleans over liability for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The accusation came from the lawyer acting for the plaintiffs' steering committee, which represents thousands of businesses and individuals.

He told US District Judge, Carl Barbier, that BP executives were most focused on cost-cutting.

The trial could result in the biggest civil fine in history of up to $17.6bn.

Samira Hussain reports.