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Families of 301 miners killed in Turkey's worst industrial disaster disrupted the start of a trial Monday, shouting out demands that charged mining executives be brought to the dock, Reuters reported.

The judge initially called in police, some in riot gear, to try and quell the unrest. He then adjourned the hearing and called for eight defendants being held on remand to be brought in Wednesday.

"Bring the killers here and have them look at us in the eye," shouted one of the relatives inside the courtroom.

An underground fire sent deadly carbon monoxide coursing through the mine in Soma, western Turkey, last May.

Forty-five company officials, including the chief executive, face charges ranging from "killing with probable intent" to "criminally negligent manslaughter."

After the disaster, mine operator Soma Holding said there had been no negligence and the government insisted that existing mining safety regulations were sound.

Hundreds of relatives and protesters marched through the town of Akhisar where the trial was being held, about 40 km from Soma, demanding harsh sentences earlier Monday.

Some wore mining helmets painted black and carrying the names of the deceased miners. Women collapsed in tears, touching the names listed on another banner

Many were enraged by the authorities' decision not to bring the defendants to the hearing. "Not an accident but murder," read one banner.

About a dozen police entered the courtroom as the judge called a break until order was restored, but there were no clashes with protesters.