Romanian prosecutors demand 12-year jail sentences for owners of Colectiv nightclub where 64 died in fire

sursa: Libertatea.ro

Romanian prosecutors on Wednesday have demanded 12-year sentences for the owners of Colectiv nightclub, where a fire erupted killing 64 people four years ago.

They also demanded a 14-year-sentence for the manager of a company whose fireworks sparked the fatal blaze on Oct. 30, 2015. They are seeking a bigger sentence claiming she tried to destroy evidence.

The three owners are charged with manslaughter “in an aggravated form,” a reference to the high number of deaths and the way they were caused.

The fire broke out during a concert by rock band Goodbye to Gravity after a spark from pyrotechnics show ignited flammable acoustic foam.

Hundreds of revellers were in the club, and 27 died immediately from burns or smoke inhalation. Some died or were injured because they couldn’t escape through an exit door that was was locked with a chain.

Others died in the following weeks from their burns or respiratory problems caused by the smoke.

The tragedy led to massive street protests over the fire and corruption which people said had led to lax safety standards. The protests caused Premier Victor Ponta and his government to resign on Nov. 4.

Public anger persists because nobody has yet been punished in the case. People  commemorate the tragedy and its victims every year on the anniversary of the fire.

Prosecutors says they will seek a maximum sentence for district mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone and city hall employees for official misconduct and and complicity to official misconduct. Piedone says he is innocent.

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