GREAT WHITE - Station Fire Update: Court TV Asks Permission To Film First Nightclub Fire Trial
December 16, 2005, 19 years ago
The following report is courtesy of Boston.com:
Court TV has asked permission to televise the first criminal trial arising from a 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people.
The channel wants to film the trial of Daniel Biechele, the former tour manager for the rock band GREAT WHITE, whose pyrotechnics are blamed for igniting the deadly Feb. 20, 2003 fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick.
A judge this week set a May 1 trial date for Biechele, who faces 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
"It's such a tragic story," said Court TV spokeswoman Andie Silvers. "It raises many safety concerns. And people will be interested in the outcome of the trial. People will want to see who a jury will decide is accountable."Court TV sent letters Thursday to Biechele's lawyer, Thomas Briody, Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Superior Court Judge Francis Darigan Jr., who is handling the case, and Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph F. Rodgers Jr.
"There are a lot of considerations in televising a trial like this one. We'll be thinking about those considerations as we go forward and looking to the court for guidance," said Michael Healey, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office.
Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian will each be tried separately after Biechele.
Briody has asked to be heard on the Court TV request before Darigan decides whether to grant it.
