[REVISION HISTORY]

Jet Set nightclub collapse legal proceedings

Updated 35 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-25 15:01 UTC → 2026-10-25 15:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the April 2025 roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, which killed 236 people and injured over 180, legal proceedings have moved toward a formal trial. Owners Antonio Espaillat López and Maribel Espaillat de Beras face charges of involuntary homicide and negligence. The trial commenced on August 28, 2026, under Judge Franny González Castillo. Prosecutor Wilson Camacho has alleged that the tragedy resulted from systematic negligence, including illegal construction and structural modifications made without permits. During early hearings, the prosecution presented a 156-page indictment involving 84 witnesses. Expert testimony, including from Leonardo de Jesús Reyes Madera of ONESVIE, indicated the structure failed due to extreme overloading; the roof was carrying over 650 pounds per square meter despite being designed for approximately 160. This weight was attributed to heavy air conditioning units and water tanks added between 2011 and 2025. While the defense challenged the technical validity of these reports, the Court of Appeals confirmed a RD$500 million asset freeze against the siblings. On October 16, 2026, Judge Franny González Castillo ruled to change the legal classification to homicide by eventual intent, stating evidence suggests the owners may have acted with “culpable indifference” toward structural risks. Due to this reclassification, the case was transferred to a collegiate court. The First Collegiate Tribunal of the Criminal Chamber, presided over by Magistrate Esmirna Gisselle Méndez, has been designated to handle the proceedings. ~~Plaintiffs have argued that the potential sentence could increase from two years~~ The tribunal is expected to ~~30 years if~~ issue an order setting the ~~charge of “dolo eventual” (eventual intent) is upheld.~~ hearing date and formally summoning the involved parties in the coming days.

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