Jet Set nightclub roof collapse trial begins with prosecution's indictment

The trial for the catastrophic collapse of the Jet Set nightclub roof, a tragedy that claimed 236 lives and injured over 180 people on April 8, 2025, has officially begun. The proceedings opened with the Public Ministry reading its extensive indictment and the lawsuits presented by the parties involved.

Presiding over the hearing, Judge Franny González Castillo initiated the trial, which is being held in the First Collegiate Tribunal's hall due to its larger capacity. The prosecution, led by Wilson Camacho, head of the Public Ministry's General Directorate of Prosecution, argued that the disaster was the result of a series of negligent acts. "The weight of negligence was greater than the capacity of the Jet Set roof," Camacho stated, underscoring the prosecution's stance.

The indictment itself spans 156 pages and is supported by a comprehensive case file. This includes 84 testimonial, 35 expert, and 40 documentary evidence items, alongside 179 procedural actions admitted during the preliminary stage. The court is meticulously reviewing these materials as the trial progresses.

During the initial session, the court addressed several preliminary legal issues. Notably, a request from the defense for the admission of a technical consultant as an expert witness was rejected by Judge González Castillo. The prosecution also urged the court to dismiss a challenge against the decision to disallow a specific expert report, arguing that the judge's initial assessment was correct based on procedural law. The proceedings are set to continue in the afternoon after a recess.

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The weight of negligence was greater than the capacity of the Jet Set roof.