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GUILTY CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
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Monday, April 29th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 10) (@ 9am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial will now start April 30, 2019 with jury selection starting 4/8 & 4/9, which should take several weeks. Opening statements scheduled for April 30 & May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 reference post #707 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
Jury Selection: at least 320 jurors next Monday (4/8) & Tuesday (4/9) to fill out questionnaires & said the attorneys in the case will question them April 16 through 18 & April 22 through 25. She said she hopes to have 12 regular jurors & 6 alternates by that time. Thompson said the prosecution & the defense will each be allowed up to 20 peremptory challenges.
Jury Selection Day 1 (4/8/19) thru Day 6 (4/22/19) reference post #718 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/23/19 Jury Selection Day 7: Jury selection continues to 4/24.
4/24/19 Jury Selection Day 8: Jury selection continues but no actual information to 4/25.
4/25/19 Jury Selection Day 9: A large pool of qualified jurors has been chosen and the final step of narrowing that pool down to 12 jurors and 6 alternates will take place on Monday, 4/29. Judge Thompson is calling for opening statements on Tuesday (4/30) and Wednesday (5/1) and for testimony to begin on May 6. Once the jury is selected Thompson will lift the gag order she issued on Jan. 18 barring the attorneys in the case, Almena and Harris and witnesses from talking to news agencies. Thompson said she expects prosecutors to finish presenting their case by late May, at which time the defense would begin presenting its case. Thompson loosely estimates that the trial will take a total of several months but in case it lasts longer than that she has already scheduled breaks in the case in late August and in October to accommodate the schedules of the parties in the case.
*Jury Selection continues (Day 10) (@ 9am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial will now start April 30, 2019 with jury selection starting 4/8 & 4/9, which should take several weeks. Opening statements scheduled for April 30 & May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 reference post #707 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
Jury Selection: at least 320 jurors next Monday (4/8) & Tuesday (4/9) to fill out questionnaires & said the attorneys in the case will question them April 16 through 18 & April 22 through 25. She said she hopes to have 12 regular jurors & 6 alternates by that time. Thompson said the prosecution & the defense will each be allowed up to 20 peremptory challenges.
Jury Selection Day 1 (4/8/19) thru Day 6 (4/22/19) reference post #718 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/23/19 Jury Selection Day 7: Jury selection continues to 4/24.
4/24/19 Jury Selection Day 8: Jury selection continues but no actual information to 4/25.
4/25/19 Jury Selection Day 9: A large pool of qualified jurors has been chosen and the final step of narrowing that pool down to 12 jurors and 6 alternates will take place on Monday, 4/29. Judge Thompson is calling for opening statements on Tuesday (4/30) and Wednesday (5/1) and for testimony to begin on May 6. Once the jury is selected Thompson will lift the gag order she issued on Jan. 18 barring the attorneys in the case, Almena and Harris and witnesses from talking to news agencies. Thompson said she expects prosecutors to finish presenting their case by late May, at which time the defense would begin presenting its case. Thompson loosely estimates that the trial will take a total of several months but in case it lasts longer than that she has already scheduled breaks in the case in late August and in October to accommodate the schedules of the parties in the case.
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I am going "assume" this is still on schedule....
Tuesday, April 30th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 9am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial will now start April 30, 2019 with jury selection starting 4/8 & 4/9, which should take several weeks. Opening statements scheduled for April 30 & May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 reference post #707 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
Jury Selection: at least 320 jurors next Monday (4/8) & Tuesday (4/9) to fill out questionnaires & said the attorneys in the case will question them April 16 through 18 & April 22 through 25. She said she hopes to have 12 regular jurors & 6 alternates by that time. Thompson said the prosecution & the defense will each be allowed up to 20 peremptory challenges.
Jury Selection Day 1 (4/8/19) thru Day 9 (4/25/19) reference post #722 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/29/19 Jury Selection Day 10: No info yet. Trial should be starting 4/30.
Tuesday, April 30th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 9am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial will now start April 30, 2019 with jury selection starting 4/8 & 4/9, which should take several weeks. Opening statements scheduled for April 30 & May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 reference post #707 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
Jury Selection: at least 320 jurors next Monday (4/8) & Tuesday (4/9) to fill out questionnaires & said the attorneys in the case will question them April 16 through 18 & April 22 through 25. She said she hopes to have 12 regular jurors & 6 alternates by that time. Thompson said the prosecution & the defense will each be allowed up to 20 peremptory challenges.
Jury Selection Day 1 (4/8/19) thru Day 9 (4/25/19) reference post #722 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/29/19 Jury Selection Day 10: No info yet. Trial should be starting 4/30.
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Ghost Ship jury selected; opening statements set to begin
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- After nearly a month of jury selection in the Ghost Ship criminal trial, a panel has been seated and opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.
"We're delighted in the jury that was selected. It's a beautiful cross section of all races," said defense attorney Tony Serra, who represents Derick Almena, the founder of the Ghost Ship artists collective and one of two men criminally charged in the deadly December 2016 fire inside the warehouse located in Oakland's Fruitvale District.
[.....]
The jury is made up of nine women and three men, with six alternates. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson lifted a gag order on the case once the jury was sworn in.
[.....]
Opening statements are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Serra says he does expect Almena to testify in his own defense, in a proceeding that is expected to last at least two more months.
The judge denied defense requests to call Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to the stand.
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- After nearly a month of jury selection in the Ghost Ship criminal trial, a panel has been seated and opening statements are set to begin Tuesday morning.
"We're delighted in the jury that was selected. It's a beautiful cross section of all races," said defense attorney Tony Serra, who represents Derick Almena, the founder of the Ghost Ship artists collective and one of two men criminally charged in the deadly December 2016 fire inside the warehouse located in Oakland's Fruitvale District.
[.....]
The jury is made up of nine women and three men, with six alternates. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson lifted a gag order on the case once the jury was sworn in.
[.....]
Opening statements are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Serra says he does expect Almena to testify in his own defense, in a proceeding that is expected to last at least two more months.
The judge denied defense requests to call Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to the stand.
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Wednesday, April 1st:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted. Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (6 alternates).
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection 4/8/19 thru 4/26/19) reference post #723 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/29/19 Jury Selection Day 10: The jury is made up of nine women and three men, with six alternates. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson lifted a gag order on the case once the jury was sworn in. Almena is expected to testify. Trial should be starting 4/30.
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted. Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (6 alternates).
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection 4/8/19 thru 4/26/19) reference post #723 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/29/19 Jury Selection Day 10: The jury is made up of nine women and three men, with six alternates. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson lifted a gag order on the case once the jury was sworn in. Almena is expected to testify. Trial should be starting 4/30.
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
dixiegirl1035
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KTVU's Ghost Ship trial courtroom blog
Curtis Briggs, an attorney for Max Harris, has finished his opening statement. He told jurors that they will hear evidence that the fire was the result of arson.
He said those who started the fire are not on trial and that the landlords are not on trial.
Briggs described his client as a servant and as a “Cinderella” who collected rent, if only to prevent those who stayed at the warehouse from being evicted by the landlords. He characterized the Ng family as landlords who only cared about getting their monthly rent.
“The evidence will show that he is being prosecuted for loving those people enough, to make sure they paid the rent so they wouldn’t get kicked out,” Briggs said.
Tony Serra will providence his opening statement at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Court will be dark until Monday, when jurors will begin hearing testimony from witnesses.
Curtis Briggs, an attorney for Max Harris, has finished his opening statement. He told jurors that they will hear evidence that the fire was the result of arson.
He said those who started the fire are not on trial and that the landlords are not on trial.
Briggs described his client as a servant and as a “Cinderella” who collected rent, if only to prevent those who stayed at the warehouse from being evicted by the landlords. He characterized the Ng family as landlords who only cared about getting their monthly rent.
“The evidence will show that he is being prosecuted for loving those people enough, to make sure they paid the rent so they wouldn’t get kicked out,” Briggs said.
Tony Serra will providence his opening statement at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Court will be dark until Monday, when jurors will begin hearing testimony from witnesses.
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Defense attorney alleges Oakland Ghost Ship fire was act of arson
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Opening statements in the Ghost Ship trial have concluded and the evidence portion is set to begin next Monday.
[.....]
In his opening statement, Almena's attorney Tony Serra said his client is not to blame for the deadly fire -- claiming witness statements will show it was arson set by several men with Molotov cocktails. Serra acknowledged there was no physical evidence found at the scene to help prove that point.
also in article per tweets:
One alternate juror removed due to work hardship, another on panel reported innappropriate contact with someone in elevator, but that juror still on panel after judge rules the contact was not a threat to juror’s impartiality.— Laura Anthony (@LauraAnthony7) May 1, 2019https://twitter.com/LauraAnthony7/status/1123653695625842689?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Opening statements in the Ghost Ship trial have concluded and the evidence portion is set to begin next Monday.
[.....]
In his opening statement, Almena's attorney Tony Serra said his client is not to blame for the deadly fire -- claiming witness statements will show it was arson set by several men with Molotov cocktails. Serra acknowledged there was no physical evidence found at the scene to help prove that point.
also in article per tweets:
One alternate juror removed due to work hardship, another on panel reported innappropriate contact with someone in elevator, but that juror still on panel after judge rules the contact was not a threat to juror’s impartiality.— Laura Anthony (@LauraAnthony7) May 1, 2019https://twitter.com/LauraAnthony7/status/1123653695625842689?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
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Defense Says Ghost Ship Prosecutors' First Witness Shouldn't Testify
An attorney for Ghost Ship warehouse creative director Max Harris filed a motion on Friday asking a judge not to allow the prosecution's first witness to testify in the trial for the deadly fire at the warehouse in Oakland in 2016.
[.....]
Prosecutor Casey Bates told Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson at the end of Wednesday's session that the first witness he plans to call to the stand is Carol Cidlik, the mother of fire victim Nicole Siegrist, 29, of Oakland.
Bates said in his opening statement that at 11:23 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2016, Siegrist sent a text message to her mother saying, "I'm going to die."
[.....]
The defense attorney wrote, "The fact that they (the prosecution) want to call Ms. Cidlik as their very first witness betrays their true motive of having her testify: they wish to use a grieving mother's testimony to tug at the jurors' heartstrings in the hopes that jurors will look at Mr. Harris and Mr. Almena to seek retribution for Ms. Cidlik's heartbreak."
Smith also asked Judge Thompson not to allow fire survivor Samuel Maxwell to testify.
Smith said Maxwell was in a coma for five weeks after the fire, spent four more months in the hospital, is now confined to a wheelchair, requires care around the clock and relies on his mother to interpret what he is saying. Maxwell is scheduled to testify later this month.
Boy - they don't want anyone to testify....
An attorney for Ghost Ship warehouse creative director Max Harris filed a motion on Friday asking a judge not to allow the prosecution's first witness to testify in the trial for the deadly fire at the warehouse in Oakland in 2016.
[.....]
Prosecutor Casey Bates told Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson at the end of Wednesday's session that the first witness he plans to call to the stand is Carol Cidlik, the mother of fire victim Nicole Siegrist, 29, of Oakland.
Bates said in his opening statement that at 11:23 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2016, Siegrist sent a text message to her mother saying, "I'm going to die."
[.....]
The defense attorney wrote, "The fact that they (the prosecution) want to call Ms. Cidlik as their very first witness betrays their true motive of having her testify: they wish to use a grieving mother's testimony to tug at the jurors' heartstrings in the hopes that jurors will look at Mr. Harris and Mr. Almena to seek retribution for Ms. Cidlik's heartbreak."
Smith also asked Judge Thompson not to allow fire survivor Samuel Maxwell to testify.
Smith said Maxwell was in a coma for five weeks after the fire, spent four more months in the hospital, is now confined to a wheelchair, requires care around the clock and relies on his mother to interpret what he is saying. Maxwell is scheduled to testify later this month.
Boy - they don't want anyone to testify....
dixiegirl1035
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Tony Serra, an attorney for Derick Almena, told jurors in his opening statement today that his client was not a “tyrant” or “cult leader” or “manipulator of truth” as some might portray him. Instead, Serra said, Almena is, at heart, an artist who strove to create a safe haven at the Ghost Ship for those to express themselves. Serra compared the warehouse to a museum or the Louvre.
“The Ghost Ship was not a a fire trap,” Serra said. “It was something aesthetic. It was my client’s vision.”
Serra, like Max Harris’ attorney Curtis Briggs yesterday, also said the fire was the result of an arson, suggesting that someone hurled Molotov cocktails in the warehouse.
“The arson was not foreseeable,” Serra said. My client did everything possible to make the premises safe.”
Serra ended his remarks by showing jurors a portrait of Almena with his wife and their three children.
Jurors will begin hearing testimony on Monday, May 6.
KTVU's Ghost Ship trial courtroom blog
“The Ghost Ship was not a a fire trap,” Serra said. “It was something aesthetic. It was my client’s vision.”
Serra, like Max Harris’ attorney Curtis Briggs yesterday, also said the fire was the result of an arson, suggesting that someone hurled Molotov cocktails in the warehouse.
“The arson was not foreseeable,” Serra said. My client did everything possible to make the premises safe.”
Serra ended his remarks by showing jurors a portrait of Almena with his wife and their three children.
Jurors will begin hearing testimony on Monday, May 6.
KTVU's Ghost Ship trial courtroom blog
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Monday, May 6th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (5 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection (4/8/19 thru 4/29/19) reference post #725 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements by Prosecutor & Harris’ attorney. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
5/1/19 Day 2: Opening statements by Almena’s attorney. Trial will start with testimony on Monday, 5/6. Judge had jury duty on 5/3.
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (5 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection (4/8/19 thru 4/29/19) reference post #725 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements by Prosecutor & Harris’ attorney. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
5/1/19 Day 2: Opening statements by Almena’s attorney. Trial will start with testimony on Monday, 5/6. Judge had jury duty on 5/3.
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Tuesday, May 7th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted. Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (5 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection (4/8/19 thru 4/29/19) reference post #725 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements by Prosecutor & Harris’ attorney. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
5/1/19 Day 2: Opening statements by Almena’s attorney. Trial will start with testimony on Monday, 5/6. Judge has jury duty on 5/3.
5/6/19 Day 3: State witnesses: no info yet. Trial continues on 5/7.
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted. Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (5 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection (4/8/19 thru 4/29/19) reference post #725 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements by Prosecutor & Harris’ attorney. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
5/1/19 Day 2: Opening statements by Almena’s attorney. Trial will start with testimony on Monday, 5/6. Judge has jury duty on 5/3.
5/6/19 Day 3: State witnesses: no info yet. Trial continues on 5/7.
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Witness dies before testifying in Ghost Ship warehouse fire trial
Ghost Ship Trial Witness Dies In Weekend Car Crash; Defense Objects To Emotional Testimony
Alameda County prosecutors had planned to call Robert Jacobitz to testify this week in the trial of Derick Almena and Max Harris.
Almena turned to Jacobitz for inexpensive help with the warehouse’s conversion after another contractor told Almena it would cost at least $5,000 to install a fire door and new stairs to the second floor.
Ghost Ship Trial Witness Dies In Weekend Car Crash; Defense Objects To Emotional Testimony
Alameda County prosecutors had planned to call Robert Jacobitz to testify this week in the trial of Derick Almena and Max Harris.
Almena turned to Jacobitz for inexpensive help with the warehouse’s conversion after another contractor told Almena it would cost at least $5,000 to install a fire door and new stairs to the second floor.
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Wednesday, May 8th:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted. Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (5 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection (4/8/19 thru 4/29/19) reference post #725 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements by Prosecutor & Harris’ attorney. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
5/1/19 Day 2: Opening statements by Almena’s attorney. Trial will start with testimony on Monday, 5/6. Judge has jury duty on 5/3.
5/6/19 Day 3: Prosecutors had planned to call Robert Jacobitz to testify this week has died in a car crash over the past weekend; he was unlicensed contractor that did work in the warehouse. His testimony will likely be read into the record from Preliminary hearing. State witnesses: Carol Cidlik (mother of Nicole Siegrist, one of victims). Nicholas “Nico” Bouchard, who co-signed the lease w/Almena). Elizabeth Mazzola (short-term resident at warehouse). Trial continues on 5/7.
5/7/19 Day 4: No info yet. Trial continues on 5/8.
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted. Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & on May 1 & testimony to begin on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (5 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings from 8/10/18 thru 4/4/19 & Jury Selection (4/8/19 thru 4/29/19) reference post #725 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
4/30/19 Day 1: Opening statements by Prosecutor & Harris’ attorney. Opening statements to continued on 5/1.
5/1/19 Day 2: Opening statements by Almena’s attorney. Trial will start with testimony on Monday, 5/6. Judge has jury duty on 5/3.
5/6/19 Day 3: Prosecutors had planned to call Robert Jacobitz to testify this week has died in a car crash over the past weekend; he was unlicensed contractor that did work in the warehouse. His testimony will likely be read into the record from Preliminary hearing. State witnesses: Carol Cidlik (mother of Nicole Siegrist, one of victims). Nicholas “Nico” Bouchard, who co-signed the lease w/Almena). Elizabeth Mazzola (short-term resident at warehouse). Trial continues on 5/7.
5/7/19 Day 4: No info yet. Trial continues on 5/8.
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I wish these people writing articles about the trial would give us ALL the witnesses who appeared.... at least I know of one now! LOL!
Update: Witness Says Almena Laughed At Ghost Ship Safety Issues
Update: Witness Says Almena Laughed At Ghost Ship Safety Issues
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dixiegirl1035
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I just cannot imagine the mother's pain at the last words. I remember my last words to somebody who passed away, and they will stick with me forever. My heart breaks for her, and all of those who lost loved ones.
May they all be surrounded by loved ones at this time, this very difficult time of the trial.
"She testified that she received a text from her daughter at 11:23 p.m. that read, “I’m gonna die now.”
It was clear from a screen grab of Cidlik’s phone that was projected on the screen that she didn’t realize the gravity of the situation. In reply, she wrote her daughter, “Going to sleep for the day. It’s 11:30. Good night love you Nicole.”
http://www.ktvu.com/news/ghost-ship-fire/ktvu-s-ghost-ship-trial-courtroom-blog
May they all be surrounded by loved ones at this time, this very difficult time of the trial.
"She testified that she received a text from her daughter at 11:23 p.m. that read, “I’m gonna die now.”
It was clear from a screen grab of Cidlik’s phone that was projected on the screen that she didn’t realize the gravity of the situation. In reply, she wrote her daughter, “Going to sleep for the day. It’s 11:30. Good night love you Nicole.”
http://www.ktvu.com/news/ghost-ship-fire/ktvu-s-ghost-ship-trial-courtroom-blog
MsMarple
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I hate that Almena's lawyer is trying to raise doubt by claiming arson! It's a bold-faced lie and he and Almena know it.
Neither Almena nor Harris were even close to being some sort of artists who "strove to create a safe haven at the Ghost Ship for those to express themselves." They are a pair of grifters who happily took money from the tenants and made promises to install safer electrical sources that they never kept.
The Ghost ship was not another Louvre. It was a death trap.
KTVU's Ghost Ship trial courtroom blog
Neither Almena nor Harris were even close to being some sort of artists who "strove to create a safe haven at the Ghost Ship for those to express themselves." They are a pair of grifters who happily took money from the tenants and made promises to install safer electrical sources that they never kept.
The Ghost ship was not another Louvre. It was a death trap.
KTVU's Ghost Ship trial courtroom blog
MsMarple
Member since 2013
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2013
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- 12,180
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- 75,988
A veteran fire code inspector on Wednesday testified that anyone who changes a facility’s use is required to keep that building up to fire code.
Sprinklers, exit doors and smoke and fire detectors could mean the difference between life and death inside a burning building, expert witness Cesar Avila told Ghost Ship trial jurors. Heightened standards are required for residential buildings or places of assembly compared to unoccupied storage areas, he said.
After more than an hour of testimony, prosecutor Casey Bates had set the stage for a key question to Avila: If a building is converted from storage to residential or assembly space, who bears responsibility for keeping the building up to code?
“The person making the change,” Avila said.
Ghost Ship trial: Fire code inspector testifies on who's responsible for building changes
My bolding.
Sprinklers, exit doors and smoke and fire detectors could mean the difference between life and death inside a burning building, expert witness Cesar Avila told Ghost Ship trial jurors. Heightened standards are required for residential buildings or places of assembly compared to unoccupied storage areas, he said.
After more than an hour of testimony, prosecutor Casey Bates had set the stage for a key question to Avila: If a building is converted from storage to residential or assembly space, who bears responsibility for keeping the building up to code?
“The person making the change,” Avila said.
Ghost Ship trial: Fire code inspector testifies on who's responsible for building changes
My bolding.
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