The defense of Gregory Adames alleges that the court denied testimony that could alter the legal classification of the Jet Set case. This rejection prevents arguing to change the classification from involuntary homicide to voluntary homicide, according to attorney Plino Piña.
Defense arguments on the legal classification
Plino Piña explained that he requested to include his client as a witness under article 305 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This allows incorporating excluded witnesses to support evidence. The goal: to demonstrate aggravating circumstances that justify a more severe legal classification in the Jet Set case. “The court denied it to prevent the basis from being seen,” Piña said.
Context of the Jet Set case collapse and legal debates
The collapse of the Jet Set Club on April 8 caused 236 deaths and more than 200 injuries. The Public Prosecutor’s Office charges the siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat with gross negligence, based on a report from the National Seismic Evaluation Office (Onesvie). It points to excess load as the cause of the structural collapse.
Private complaints seek to toughen charges
Victims’ attorneys filed complaints to raise the legal classification. They criticize the initial accusation as weak. Piña emphasizes that this point is key to classifying the act as homicide, not involuntary. The process remains in the preliminary phase, with debates over evidence.
- Gregory Adames: Main witness whose statement was rejected.
- Public Prosecutor’s Office: Maintains gross negligence due to structural failure.
- Espaillat family: Denies intimidation of witnesses such as Adames.
Legal experts highlight tensions in the legal classification. The Espaillat family issued a statement affirming respectful treatment of witnesses, denying any pressure. However, the defense insists that Adames’ testimony could tip the balance.
The Jet Set case exposes failures in the oversight of night venues. Onesvie statistics reveal vulnerabilities in similar buildings. The legal classification will determine penalties for the accused, while victims demand full justice. This judicial rejection complicates progress, but the debate persists in the preliminary stage.
In the Jet Set case, the legal classification remains contested, with implications for the entire Dominican criminal justice system.
