Villaggio fire trial to begin on October 11
DOHA: The trial in the tragic Villaggio Mall fire case is slated to begin on October 11 in a Lower Criminal Court.
A number of people, including a woman, are accused in the case involving the May 28 inferno that claimed 19 lives including those of 13 children, sources told this newspaper yesterday.
The first hearing in the case was scheduled for September 6 but it had to be adjourned by the Lower Criminal Court as three of the several accused failed to turn up, it is reliably learnt.
“Some seven to eight people are accused in the case,” a source told this newspaper.
The parents of the deceased children had turned out in full force on September 6 barring two of them (who were out of Qatar at the time) at Al Sadd court premises.
It is expected that they would be present during the October 11 hearing as well, though they expressed reservations about the charges filed by the Public Prosecution. Trial in the case has taken time to kick off since the court was closed during the summer break.
The affected parents had in a joint communication addressed to this newspaper earlier demanded action against those responsible for the fire but since the court was closed and it was a state versus accused case, their viewpoint could not be accommodated in the form of a report.
Read more: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/210696-villaggio-fire-trial-to-be...
Unless they impose travel bans and penalties for not showing up they will continue to avoid the courts. I wonder if any or all of them are on Bail or have been charged yet and what their conditions of Bail is?
More important, let's hope all defendants show up (unlike last time) so that the trial can be held.
Another shot at giving justice where it's due(or long over due!) Just hope this hearing isn't reduced to being just a shenanigan like the previous one, and that people are actually made to answer to what they have done wrong.
if this is the direction of the prosecutor, then command responsibility will go to the top! And you know what or who are these people are! But I guess it will just a trial of fall guys?
Surely people could be charged with manslaughter flor? Neglect causing death?
Hoping fair justice to all victims.
it's arson, then it will just be financial thing in the end!
Let's hope it's a fair trial and the newspaper are allowed to publish the proceedings. However I feel it will be heavily censored.
n copy paste session begins
Inquest or trial ?
Hope it is not shameful as previous one as none of the accused showed up.
I am not sure if the court will held anyone responsible for the crime/accident, but let be optimistic.