SANTO DOMINGO.– The legal process for the Jet Set tragedy, considered one of the biggest catastrophes to occur in an entertainment center in the recent history of the Dominican Republic, entered a new phase after the designation of the court that will be in charge of the substantive trial against the businessmen Antonio and Maribel Espaillat.
The Presidency of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of the National District reported this Monday the assignment of the case file to the Fourth Criminal Chamber, presided over by Magistrate Franny González, who will be in charge of conducting the judicial process derived from the collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub, a tragedy that caused the death of 236 people and left more than 180 injured.
A new stage after the recusal of the first appointed judge
The appointment comes after Judge Clara Luz Almonte, of the Second Criminal Chamber of the National District, recused herself from hearing the case, alleging a close friendship with one of the victims of the accident, which, according to the statement, is a decision based on the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code relating to judicial impartiality.
With the assignment of the new court, Magistrate González must issue the order setting the hearing, through which the Public Prosecutor's Office, the defense of the accused, and the plaintiffs will be summoned to formally begin the trial on the merits.
The case that tested the Dominican judicial system
The case was sent to trial by Judge Raymundo Mejía of the First Court of Instruction of the National District, who concluded that there were sufficient grounds for the process to proceed under the classification of involuntary homicide and involuntary blows and wounds, dismissing the request of some plaintiffs who sought an accusation for voluntary homicide.
In his decision, the magistrate also excluded the National District City Hall, the Ministry of Public Works (MOPC), and other state institutions from the criminal proceedings, while ordering protective measures on the assets of the accused in order to guarantee eventual economic compensation to the victims.
The opening of the substantive trial marks the beginning of the stage in which the documentary, testimonial and expert evidence related to a tragedy that, more than a year after it occurred, continues to generate questions about the criminal, civil and institutional responsibilities derived from the collapse of the emblematic entertainment center will be publicly debated.
Recommended readings:
- Jet Set Case: Public Prosecutor's Office affirms it will seek maximum sentence for Espaillat brothers in trial
- Jet Set case: Espaillat brothers will go to trial for involuntary manslaughter
- Two versions of the same disaster. The two expert reports on the Jet Set: what they say and where they contradict each other
