The Station Night Club
The sentence for the owners of the Station night club (Jeffrey and Michael Derderian) was handed down. A plea bargain was reach in which Michael Derderian would server 4 years and jail and Jeffrey Derderian would server no time behind bars.
Today the victims' families had their chance to speak. "Lady Justice in Rhode Island is blind, but she's also deaf," Jay McLaughlin, the brother-in-law of two of the victims, told the judge. "Before I read my statement, I'd like to just say I will address you, but I will not say "Your Honor." I don't think you're an honorable man. I don't respect you," said Annmarie Swidwa, the mother of 25-year-old Bridget Sanetti.
The vicitms' families were understandably angry. Judge Francis Darigan admonished the victims' relatives not to try to talk him out of the plea bargain. This only infuriated speakers more. At one point the Judge had to call a recess to stop the hearings so that tensions in the room could cool.
While I don't understand what the families are feeling first hand I too am disappointed with this plea bargain. There is no closure for these families. There is no justice. The Judicial system is there to protect, and to administer punishment those who need it. With the plea bargain that was negotiated, neither is taking place.
Today the victims' families had their chance to speak. "Lady Justice in Rhode Island is blind, but she's also deaf," Jay McLaughlin, the brother-in-law of two of the victims, told the judge. "Before I read my statement, I'd like to just say I will address you, but I will not say "Your Honor." I don't think you're an honorable man. I don't respect you," said Annmarie Swidwa, the mother of 25-year-old Bridget Sanetti.
The vicitms' families were understandably angry. Judge Francis Darigan admonished the victims' relatives not to try to talk him out of the plea bargain. This only infuriated speakers more. At one point the Judge had to call a recess to stop the hearings so that tensions in the room could cool.
While I don't understand what the families are feeling first hand I too am disappointed with this plea bargain. There is no closure for these families. There is no justice. The Judicial system is there to protect, and to administer punishment those who need it. With the plea bargain that was negotiated, neither is taking place.
posted by bluesmanjay at 8:59 PM
1 Comments:
Just wanted to remind you that God is a "forgiving" God. I don't believe that the owners of this nightclub had any "malicious" intent when they hired the band or waiting a few extra weeks to fix some fire inspection points of failure. While I understand part of the grieving process mandates "blame", does putting two "businessmen" behind bars because they own the property bring anyone back? Holding these men accountable by putting them in jail as murderers (yes, that's what a manslaugher conviction is), sends a message I'm not quite sure I can support. Although I am angry that so many inocent people died, I don't honestly believe that Jeffrey or Michael had any forethought or foresight that a catastrophe such as this was in the making. Isn't it possible that this was just a very, very tragic, unforseeable accident? Again, I have tremendous sympathy for those who lost loved ones and I am shocked that something so inocent could evolve into such a tragedy however, both Michael and Jeffrey Derderian have to live with the outcome of that night for the rest of their lives - clearly not an easy thing to do.
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