Oakland warehouse fire: pair to face trial after judge rejected plea deal

Judge said Derick Almena, one of two men charged in the Ghost Ship blaze, failed to show enough remorse for deadly fire

The two men charged with involuntary manslaughter over a warehouse blaze that killed three dozen partygoers will face trial in Oakland early next year, their lawyers said Monday.

Derick Almena, 48, and Max Harris, 28, each pleaded no contest to 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter before a judge vetoed a plea deal worked out with prosecutors. Judge James Cramer rejected the deal after he ruled that Almena hadn’t shown sufficient remorse during a two-day sentencing hearing.

Continue reading...

from US news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Psb3E4