SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The brother-and-sister owners of the nightclub in the capital where a roof collapse killed 236 people and injured over 100 last year will go on trial for involuntary manslaughter, a judge has decided.
Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the proprietors of the Jet Set nightclub, could each face up to two years in prison should they be convicted.
The April 8 2025 collapse sent shockwaves throughout the Dominican Republic, prompting authorities to labor intensely for days to rescue survivors trapped beneath the debris.
Prosecutors earlier alleged that the Espaillats attempted to intimidate or manipulate staff. Antonio Espaillat, a prominent businessman who owns upscale entertainment venues and numerous local radio stations, is accused by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of having hundreds of pieces of evidence linking him and his sister to the collapse.
Hundreds of attendees, including athletes and politicians, were present at Jet Set for a concert by singer Rubby Pérez, who was among the fatalities. Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel was also rescued from the rubble but later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
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