The convicts will remain at large while their lawyers appeal the decision.
In Brazil, four people were found guilty of a fire at the Kiss nightclub in the city of Santa Maria, which killed 242 people and injured another 630.
This Friday, December 10, according to the BBC.
It is noted that the incident occurred in 2013 during a student party, when members of the Gurizada Fandangueira group lit fireworks. The sparks ignited the soundproofing placed on the ceiling. A stampede began in the establishment and most of the people died from poisoning with acrid smoke.
The owners of the establishment Elisandro Spora and Mauro Hoffmann were sentenced to 22 and 19 years in prison, respectively, and member of the group Marcelo de Jesus dos Santos and former producer Luciano Bonilla Leao are to be imprisoned for 18 years each.
At the same time, after the announcement of the judgment, all four convicts were immediately released. According to the newspaper, they will remain at large while their lawyers will appeal the decision.
According to the findings of the investigation, there was not a single working fire extinguisher in the room and there was a poor alarm system. In addition, the institution had only two emergency exits.
Most of the victims were students between the ages of 17 and 30. During the trial, the testimony of 14 survivors and 19 other witnesses was heard.
Former Kiss employee Katya Giane Pacheco Sicqueira told in the courtroom how she spent 21 days in the hospital with burns of 40% of her body: “I shouted that I don't want to die. ” She added that the administration of the nightclub adhered to the principle “the more people inside, the better.” After a fire in 2013, Brazilian police charged 16 suspects with premeditated murder.
