Derderians will plead; Station fire trial ends (slap on wrists in nightclub tragedy)

The brothers who owned The Station nightclub, where a fast- moving fire on Feb. 20, 2003, killed 100 people, have agreed to plead no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges, effectively ending the criminal prosecution against them.

In exchange for their pleas, Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. has agreed to a sentence that calls for no jail time for one of the brothers, Jeffrey A. Derderian.

Michael A. Derderian, 45, is to serve four years in prison followed by three years of probation. He also will have an 11-year suspended sentence, which he could have to serve if he gets into trouble while on probation.

That sentence is identical to the one Darigan imposed in May on Daniel M. Biechele, the tour manager for rock band Great White who set off fireworks that started the fire and who pleaded guilty in February.

Jeffrey Derderian, 39, will receive a 10-year suspended sentence, three years probation and 500 hours of community service.

In a letter to the families of victims dated yesterday, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch blasted the sentences for the Derderians.

>> "I want each of you to understand that as attorney general, I have not agreed to this disposition, and I will continue to strongly voice my objection," the letter says. "Despite their desire to admit to the charges against them, I was unwilling to recommend or agree to the sentences that I have been advised the court will impose. Most significantly, I strongly disagree with the court's intention to sentence Jeffrey Derderian to less than jail."

>>Kathleen M. Hagerty, who represents Michael Derderian, last night told The Providence Journal that it was Lynch's office that proposed the sentences to which Darigan agreed.

>>She said lead prosecutor William Ferland offered the sentences Aug. 10 and again in a handwritten note on Sept. 7. Ferland told Darigan that Lynch had authorized the offer, according to Hagerty.

>>But, in a Sept. 12 meeting -- the day after the Derderians agreed to the proposed deal -- prosecutors told the judge, with the defense lawyers present, that Lynch wanted to "pull it off the table," according to Hagerty.

Providence Journal online archive re: the fire:

http://www.projo.com/blogs/stationfire/

100 dead, scores injured, slap on wrist.
I drove by the site of the Station a year or two back
(Cowesett Ave., Warwick RI). It was a tiny plot of land.
Subtract the parking lot and imagine how small the club
must have been. 400 people packed in, and only a couple
minutes for them to get out once the fast-moving fire
started.

Cheap, flammable foam apparently put up by the owners.
A trial could get the whole story out, including what
local authorities may have failed to do (inspections, etc.)
But it is not to be.

I know these guys are 'legally responsiible', but the real culprit is the guy who setup and lit the pyros. these guys represent mostly the deep pockets of their insurance.

i certainly would think twice about opening a night club if I was going to be pilloried for the actions of others.

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