Sep 5, 2007 11:19 pm US/Eastern
Fire Victims' Relatives Divided On Upcoming Parole
WARWICK, R.I. (AP) ―
Relatives of the 100 people killed by a 2003 nightclub fire offered mixed views Wednesday on whether the man whose pyrotechnics ignited the blaze should be let out early from prison, with some saying he had done enough time and others calling his sentence pitifully short.
"Daniel Biechele has robbed us of so much," Eileen DiBonaventura, who lost her 18-year-old son Albert, told the parole board at a hearing for victims' families. The board is considering whether to grant parole to the former rock band tour manager when he becomes eligible in two weeks.
"We have no sympathy for him whatsoever," she said.
The hearing began just hours after lawyers for the families reported a tentative $13.5 million settlement with several of the dozens of defendants who sued over the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick. The fire began when pyrotechnics Biechele ignited during a Great White concert set ablaze flammable foam on the club's walls.
In addition to the 100 people killed, more than 200 were injured.
Wednesday's meeting allowed victims' relatives to address the board ahead of Biechele's Sept. 19 parole hearing. Of the eight speakers, several said it would be an injustice to release Biechele early from his four-year prison sentence while they continue to visit their loved ones' graves and suffer through endless grief.
"Mr. Biechele will one day get on with his life, but our pain will never, ever go away," said William Bonardi, who lost his 36-year-old son, also named William. "We strongly feel that the needless death of our only child has brought us a life sentence of suffering that we will carry to our death."
But others said Biechele deserved credit for accepting responsibility and noted that he never intended harm. He pleaded guilty last year to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter. He is eligible for parole after serving 16 months in prison.
"In my opinion, Mr. Biechele demonstrated courage and integrity for acknowledging his role in that terrible tragedy," said Sarah Mancini, who lost her son, Keith, 34.
"He was the only one of many participants in this horrible event who was man enough to stand up and admit he had some culpability," she added.
Four others addressed the parole board outside the presence of news reporters. Board chairwoman Lisa Holley has said the majority of about 20 letters the board had received as of last week supported Biechele's parole.
Besides the now-resolved criminal case, nearly 300 fire survivors and victims' relatives have sued in federal court. The settlement, if approved by the judge, would mark the first of what relatives' lawyers hope will be several agreements with defendants in lawsuits stemming from the fire,
"It's just the beginning," said Michael St. Pierre, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
Among the companies that have tentatively agreed to settle are a manufacturer of sound-deadening material, a manufacturer and vendor of pyrotechnics, the realty company that leased the building to club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and an alarm company, according to court papers. They will not admit wrongdoing as part of the proposed settlement, said John Barylick, another attorney for fire survivors and relatives of those killed.
Barylick said the settlement was dependent on the court appointing a special master to oversee the distribution of the money.
The lawyers are recommending that Francis McGovern, a law professor at Duke University, serve as special master, saying he has fulfilled similar duties more than 50 times.
James Murphy, a lawyer for Triton Realty Limited Partnership, said his clients had been "personally traumatized by the fire" and wanted to get the matter resolved.
Several defendants remain in the case, including Clear Channel Broadcasting, Anheuser-Busch and Home Depot.
A lawyer for Celotex Corp., another company that has agreed in principle to settle, refused to comment. The plaintiffs acuse the company of making a soundproofing board that was located above the drummer's alcove and which they say was dangerous and defective. The board is different from the soundproofing foam blamed for fueling the flames.
Two other defendants included in the possible settlement are pyrotechnic maker Luna Tech Inc. and pyrotechnic vendor High Tech Special Effects Inc. Biechele told investigators that he used pyrotechnics manufactured by Luna Tech, a claim also made by the plaintiffs' lawyers. The company has not said its products were involved.
A lawyer for Luna Tech declined to comment, while a lawyer for High Tech did not return calls seeking comment.
The Derderians pleaded no contest last year to involuntary manslaughter charges. Jeffrey Derderian was sentenced to 500 hours of community service. His brother was sentenced to serve four years in prison.
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