Ghost Ship trial: 1 found not guilty; hung jury for co-defendant

[TexasTowelie]

OAKLAND, Calif. — A jury on Thursday afternoon found Max Harris not guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2016 deaths of 36 people trapped inside the fire-engulfed Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, and couldn’t decide on the guilt or innocence of his co-defendant, Derick Almena.

A second trial for Almena, 49, who also faced 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter, is possible and he is due back in court next month. Ten of 12 jurors voted that he was guilty.

Both he and Harris, 29, faced a maximum sentence of 39 years behind bars had they been convicted.

Family members of victims crowded into Judge Trina Thompson’s courtroom gasped when the judge declared a mistrial on Almena’s charges. Some grasped each other’s hands, some held their heads in their hands as others wept.

Read more: https://www.gainesville.com/zz/news/20190905/ghost-ship-trial-1-found-not-guilty-hung-jury-for-co-defendant

[3Hotdogs]

1. This was a featured N.Y.Times story about a year ago.

After reading, I would have voted, "Not guilty."

More blame to city and Ng, the owner of the building.

I would have supported the original plea deal.