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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Anger at Paraguay blaze verdict | Anger at Paraguay blaze verdict |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Clashes have broken out in the capital of Paraguay after a court acquitted three men of murder for their role in a mall blaze which killed more than 350. | |
| Juan Pio Paiva, his son Daniel and a guard, Daniel Areco, were found guilty of negligent homicide. | |
| Prosecutors had sought a murder conviction, claiming the men locked fire doors during the 2004 blaze. | Prosecutors had sought a murder conviction, claiming the men locked fire doors during the 2004 blaze. |
| Relatives of the dead and survivors reacted angrily to news that the men were found guilty of the lesser crime. | Relatives of the dead and survivors reacted angrily to news that the men were found guilty of the lesser crime. |
| Some 30 people were injured in clashes with riot police as relatives reacted to the verdicts read out in an indoor stadium used as a court in the capital, Asuncion. | |
| Looting | Looting |
| Those listening surged towards the judges' desk as the decision was read. | Those listening surged towards the judges' desk as the decision was read. |
| The three men face a maximum prison term of seven years. | The three men face a maximum prison term of seven years. |
| According to the law in Paraguay, those convicted of murder can be punished with a 25-year sentence. | According to the law in Paraguay, those convicted of murder can be punished with a 25-year sentence. |
| "They have lit another fire under us all," said Clara Benitez, one of the victims. | "They have lit another fire under us all," said Clara Benitez, one of the victims. |
| Outside the packed stadium, crowds ransacked a supermarket belonging to the owner of the shopping complex, pulling bags of sugar and bottles of alcohol from the shelves and dumping them on the streets. | Outside the packed stadium, crowds ransacked a supermarket belonging to the owner of the shopping complex, pulling bags of sugar and bottles of alcohol from the shelves and dumping them on the streets. |
| Police were also reported to have put out several cars that had been set cars alight by angry relatives and their supporters. | Police were also reported to have put out several cars that had been set cars alight by angry relatives and their supporters. |
| Corruption allegations | Corruption allegations |
| "The judges are corrupt and now they will have to face the consequences," said Liz Torres, a member of an association of victims' families. | "The judges are corrupt and now they will have to face the consequences," said Liz Torres, a member of an association of victims' families. |
| Pavia denied claims he had locked the doors to prevent looting | Pavia denied claims he had locked the doors to prevent looting |
| "This is inhuman and wrong and we urge people to come and support us," she said. | "This is inhuman and wrong and we urge people to come and support us," she said. |
| The three men pleaded not guilty to the murder charges, saying that the doors had been shut to prevent looting. | The three men pleaded not guilty to the murder charges, saying that the doors had been shut to prevent looting. |
| The fire broke out in a restaurant in the Ycua Bolanos supermarket on the outskirts of the capital in August 2004. | The fire broke out in a restaurant in the Ycua Bolanos supermarket on the outskirts of the capital in August 2004. |
| It quickly engulfed the rest of the complex causing a roof to collapse. | It quickly engulfed the rest of the complex causing a roof to collapse. |
| At least 369 people were killed in the fire and another 400 injured as they tried to escape. | At least 369 people were killed in the fire and another 400 injured as they tried to escape. |