Verdict Sealed in Fatal N.Y. Fire Case Despite Lawyers' Objections
A jury reached a verdict yesterday in the trial of two tenants accused of illegally creating extra rooms that doomed two New York firefighters in the so-called Black Sunday blaze in 2005. They died jumping from the fourth floor when they were trapped by flames in a room without a fire escape.
But the judge overseeing the case has sealed their verdict, saying that it could influence another jury now deliberating in a parallel case against the building’s owner and manager, reports the New York Daily News.
“It’s the best and only way to protect the rights of the defendants whose jury is still deliberating,” said Bronx Supreme Court Judge Margaret Clancy.
It appears that the verdict will soon be unsealed, according to the newspaper: The jury that is still deliberating has the day off today but has been instructed to bring suitcases when they return on Friday, apparently with the intention that they will be sequestered over the weekend if they do not reach a verdict that day.
Both the prosecution and defense objected to having the verdict sealed in the case against the tenants. If something should happen to any of them or one does not return, their verdict will be invalid if the jurors are not polled in open court, reports Newsday.
The fire allegedly was caused by unsafe electrical work performed by one of the tenants. The owner and manager of the building are accused of failing to correct the illegal work done by the two tenants.
