International • • • 🌿 Progressive

Fachada con columnas de un palacio de justicia en Santo Domingo con abogados con expedientes bajando la escalinata y micrófonos de prensa en primer plano
Palacio de justicia en Santo Domingo, imagen alusiva al juicio de fondo por el colapso de la discoteca Jet Set. · Erick Prometeo Media

Full trial in Jet Set case will begin on December 10

The First Collegiate Court of the National District set December 10 at 9:00 a.m.

--- The context --- The Jet Set nightclub collapsed in the early hours of April 8, 2025, during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who died in the tragedy. A total of 236 people were killed and more than one hundred were injured, turning the case into a national concern. --- The facts --- The First Collegiate Court of the National District set the first hearing of the full trial for December 10 at 9:00 in the morning. The court, presided over by Judge Esmirna Gisselle Méndez, will hear the case against Antonio Espaillat López and Maribel Espaillat de Bera, owners of the nightclub, for alleged violation of articles 295 and 309 of the Dominican Penal Code. --- The positions --- Judge Franny González Castillo, of the Fourth Criminal Chamber, declined jurisdiction after changing the classification from involuntary homicide to homicide by eventual intent, considering that a greater penalty applies, from three to twenty years in prison. The order sets the public criminal trial for that date. No other party positions are included. --- What remains unknown --- A substitute has not yet been appointed for Tania Haydee Yunes, who had requested a transfer, as had Jissel Naranjo. For now, Judge Emely Milagros Bruno also sits on the court, substituting for Naranjo. The schedule for hearings after the first one is still unknown. --- Unanswered questions --- How will the court support the classification of homicide by eventual intent at trial? When will the pending substitute be appointed to complete the court? What schedule of hearings and evidence will be set from December 10 onward? --- EPM analysis --- The change in classification redefines the seriousness attributed to the collapse and the penalty range under discussion. A collegiate court taking the decisive stage organizes the process, but focuses public attention on every ground. A trial protecting victims without sacrificing guarantees is expected. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, setting the full trial for December 10 finally gives a firm date to a case that marked the entire country. The new classification, carrying penalties of three to twenty years, raises the burden of proof for every party involved. What matters most is that the collegiate court acts with transparency, rigor and respect for due process, because the families of the 236 people who died and of those injured deserve clear, verifiable answers without unnecessary delays at every single hearing.
📤 Share on Telegram

¿Te gustó este artículo? Recibe cobertura global en tu correo.

Suscríbete gratis / Subscribe free