Spanish
Santo Domingo. – At this moment, the owners of the nightclub Jet Set, the siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, are appearing before the court. They attended this Monday at the Palacio de Justicia de Ciudad Nueva to face the preliminary trial for the tragedy that occurred after the collapse of the nightclub's roof, an event that caused the death of 236 people and left dozens injured.
The atmosphere in the court and its surroundings is one of tension, pain, and collective demand. From early on, weeping family members of victims are observed, holding photographs and banners, demanding that the case not go unpunished. Many denounced that the loss is irreparable and that they have come here with a single goal: that responsibilities be established and that justice give a firm message in the face of a tragedy that mourns hundreds of Dominican homes.
As the hearing unfolds, the perimeter remains heavily guarded, with police officers and security personnel controlling access and maintaining order in the face of the generated expectation. According to the prosecution, the Public Ministry attributes involuntary manslaughter to the defendants, pointing out alleged negligence related to the structural conditions of the premises. At this stage, the court will determine whether there are sufficient elements to proceed to a trial on the merits.
You can also read: Pain, tears and a single demand: justice at the beginning of the preliminary trial for the Jet Set tragedy
The Jet Set case, which occurred on April 8, 2025, remains one of the most devastating tragedies recorded in the country and has sparked a national conversation about oversight, permits, infrastructure safety, and corporate responsibility. Today, with the process advancing in the courts, the families return to the same point where they seek the only thing they have left in the midst of their grief: justice.
