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Sentences over Paraguay shop fire | Sentences over Paraguay shop fire |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Paraguayan court has sentenced a supermarket chain owner to 12 years in jail over the deaths of more than 300 people in a fire at one of his stores. | |
Judges found Juan Pio Paiva guilty of manslaughter, rejecting calls for a harsher sentence over the 2004 blaze. | Judges found Juan Pio Paiva guilty of manslaughter, rejecting calls for a harsher sentence over the 2004 blaze. |
His son Daniel was jailed for 10 years and security guard Daniel Areco for five over the fire which injured 400. | His son Daniel was jailed for 10 years and security guard Daniel Areco for five over the fire which injured 400. |
Relatives accuse Mr Paiva of blocking people's escape by locking the stores' doors to prevent looting. | Relatives accuse Mr Paiva of blocking people's escape by locking the stores' doors to prevent looting. |
The first trial on the fire, held in 2006, was annulled by the Supreme Court after thousands of people rioted, believing the original verdict to be too lenient. | The first trial on the fire, held in 2006, was annulled by the Supreme Court after thousands of people rioted, believing the original verdict to be too lenient. |
Lacking safety features | Lacking safety features |
But families of the victims have complained that the new prison terms are still too lenient. | But families of the victims have complained that the new prison terms are still too lenient. |
Hundreds of people protested outside the court calling for the defendants to be given the maximum sentence of 25 years. | Hundreds of people protested outside the court calling for the defendants to be given the maximum sentence of 25 years. |
Three shareholders were acquitted. | Three shareholders were acquitted. |
Several hundred people were inside when the fire broke out | Several hundred people were inside when the fire broke out |
The fire began in a chimney that an investigation found had been badly built and badly maintained. | The fire began in a chimney that an investigation found had been badly built and badly maintained. |
The shop was also found to have lacked an effective fire detection system or proper emergency exits. | The shop was also found to have lacked an effective fire detection system or proper emergency exits. |
The defendants were charged with negligent homicide and endangering people in the workplace. | The defendants were charged with negligent homicide and endangering people in the workplace. |
The court blamed them for chaining shut the doors of the Ycua Bolanos store in Asuncion after the fire had started. | The court blamed them for chaining shut the doors of the Ycua Bolanos store in Asuncion after the fire had started. |
During the trial the defendants said they had closed down the supermarket because they feared those inside would start looting, AFP news agency reported. | During the trial the defendants said they had closed down the supermarket because they feared those inside would start looting, AFP news agency reported. |
It was the worst fire in Paraguayan history. | It was the worst fire in Paraguayan history. |