[NYTr] Accused Arsonists in Paraguay Mall Fire Being Re-Tried

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com


Accused Arsonists in Paraguay Mall Fire Being Re-Tried

Asuncion, Sept 7 (Prensa Latina) The public trial of those responsible
for a fire in the Ycua Bolanos shopping mall, the worst civil tragedy
in Paraguayan history, was resumed on Thursday.

A court annulled the previous trial, held from July to December 2006,
according to judicial sources.

The court's ruling at the time enraged the survivors and relatives of
the victims of the tragedy, which occurred on August 1, 2004, and took
a toll of 400 deaths.

The questioned sentenced minimized the crimes committed by the mall's
owners, who were accused of closing the building although there were
customers inside.

Juan Pio Paiva, his son Daniel Paiva and security guard Daniel Areco
were found guilty of culpable homicide and were sentenced to seven
years in prison.

Only one judge found them guilty of fraudulent homicide, as charged by
the prosecutor's office, which had requested a 25-year prison term for
the defendants.

The magnitude of the demonstrations known as "Tuesdays of Rage" led 

President Nicanor Duarte himself to express dissatisfaction with the
court's ruling and to demand a new trial.

/jg/tpa