SANTO DOMINGO.– Statements made this Tuesday at the Palace of Justice in Ciudad Nueva, National District, have once again brought into question the counter-expert report presented by the defense of siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat in the case of the Jet Set nightclub collapse, the findings of which were made public yesterday, Tuesday, May 26.
Lawyers Carlos Salcedo and Laura Acosta reacted to the technical report submitted to the court with the results of the investigation, a document that contradicts some of the conclusions previously established by the expert report carried out by the Public Ministry and the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie).
They question the legality and scope of the document
Lawyer Laura Acosta stated that the document presented by the defense does not meet the necessary conditions to be considered a valid expert opinion within the judicial process.
He argued that the technicians in charge of the report had exceeded the scope authorized by the court at the time of carrying out the expert analysis.
According to the counter-expert report by the Espaillat brothers, the collapse of the structure was related to a progressive internal deterioration and hidden construction defects, ruling out overloading as the main cause, as established in the report made by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Report says it strengthens the Public Prosecutor's case
Carlos Salcedo considered that the document ends up reinforcing the position of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the victims of the case.
“The counter-expert report, instead of helping them, only worsens their situation. They have ended up muddying the waters and contributing to a much stronger case for the Public Prosecutor's Office,” the lawyer stated.
Salcedo also pointed out that the report itself refers to structural flaws and elements of deterioration that, in his opinion, reinforce the questions about the supervision and maintenance of the building.
Court decision still pending
The counter-expertise was requested by the defense of Antonio and Maribel Espaillat after expressing disagreement with the conclusions of the official report presented by the authorities.
The document was submitted to Judge Raymundo Mejía, who is familiar with the case and reserved his decision on the preliminary hearing until June 15, when he will decide whether the defendants will be sent to trial.
Recommended readings:
- Two versions of the same disaster. The two expert reports on the Jet Set: what they say and where they contradict each other
- What are the main points of contrast between the expert opinion of the Prosecutor's Office and that of the Espaillat brothers?
- The Public Prosecutor's Office says a key column in the Jet Set building was removed; there was excessive load on the roof
