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Judge orders Derick Almena, Max Harris to trial for Ghost Ship deaths
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | December 14, 2017 | Jenna Lyons

Posted on 12/15/2017 11:09:36 AM PST by jazusamo

Two men will face trial on 36 counts each of involuntary manslaughter in the Ghost Ship fire after an Alameda County Superior Court judge determined Thursday that there was sufficient evidence in the case.

Prosecutors say Max Harris and Derick Almena created a firetrap at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland’s Fruitvale district. The men, prosecutors allege, rented the space for an electronic music show on Dec. 2, 2016, that drew dozens of partygoers — 36 died in the burning building, which was not permitted for shows or residency and had no sprinklers, fire escapes or marked exits.

Witnesses told the court that Almena laughed off suggestions to bring the place up to code. They described how, on the night of the fire, passageways were blocked by piano benches and an inflatable screen. They also described a makeshift stairway that bottlenecked when people tried to flee from the second floor as flames spread.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; ghostship; ghostshipfire; oakland; sanfrancisco

1 posted on 12/15/2017 11:09:37 AM PST by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

Good.


2 posted on 12/15/2017 11:11:59 AM PST by Tax-chick ("It's not like a productive member of society would have been lost." ~ PAR35)
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To: All

More at link, this is an excerpt.


3 posted on 12/15/2017 11:12:22 AM PST by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

Does the one on the right have those big hoops in his ears? I’ve seen more than a few strange cats like that - even here in the Midwest. Just looks totally pagan.

https://media.ktvu.com/media.ktvu.com/photo/2017/06/16/Derick_AlmenaandMax_Harris_1497642715101_3578056_ver1.0_640_360.jpg


4 posted on 12/15/2017 11:12:35 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: jazusamo

Ummm...is there any type of code enforcement where this happened?


5 posted on 12/15/2017 11:14:49 AM PST by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: SaveFerris

Don’t know but I think they’re both really weird.


6 posted on 12/15/2017 11:16:59 AM PST by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

There were construction and fire codes, it was a downtown warehouse in Oakland. They weren’t being enforced, and there is some question as to whether the inspectors were either bought, or lazy. Naturally, they won’t be indicted, having municipal immunity.


7 posted on 12/15/2017 11:18:38 AM PST by jonascord (First rule of the Dunning-Kruger Club is that you do not know you are in the Dunning-Kruger club.)
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To: jazusamo

“Ghost Ship” turned out to be horribly prophetic.


8 posted on 12/15/2017 11:18:43 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: SaveFerris

That’s where calamari comes from.


9 posted on 12/15/2017 11:20:47 AM PST by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

The space wasn’t designed or licensed as a public venue, so the city would have no reason to enforce those codes on the property. The defendants rented the space and illegally decided to use it for that purpose without getting any permits.


10 posted on 12/15/2017 11:21:10 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

From the article it looks like the local Engine company went to check the place and notified the Fire Prevention Bureau of many problems.

From what I read months ago it was pretty evident the Bureau dropped the ball and never followed up, some heads should roll.


11 posted on 12/15/2017 11:21:16 AM PST by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

What about the Old Chinese lady who owned the building and the Oakland Fire Department who never inspected it. And finally, how about the Black Female “Affirmative Action” Fire Chief who “retired” right after the fire? Why are they not being sued?


12 posted on 12/15/2017 11:23:56 AM PST by vette6387
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To: jonascord

I’ve been to similar “events” and you know what you’re getting into - those that don’t are too whacked out on drugs.


13 posted on 12/15/2017 11:24:31 AM PST by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
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To: vette6387

Yep, see my post 11.


14 posted on 12/15/2017 11:28:31 AM PST by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: NativeSon

I’ve encountered many of these young men - about 17-23 at the convenience store and even the grocery store. Seems like a “fashion” only Man’s Country Obama could love.


15 posted on 12/15/2017 11:31:31 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

Codes yes, enforcement, no.


16 posted on 12/15/2017 11:33:31 AM PST by mazda77
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To: SaveFerris

Ah, the “I’m going to work at a record store (cause, vinyl, man!) or a tattoo parlor” look.


17 posted on 12/15/2017 11:43:52 AM PST by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
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To: NativeSon

Yes - it’s offensive

I’m guessing at their ages but they all look like pagans to me.

I try not to stare. What a ridiculous mutilation of their God-given bodies.


18 posted on 12/15/2017 11:46:56 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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