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September 29, 2006

Station fire: Governor criticizes Derderian sentences

Like many family and friends of Station fire victims, Governor Carcieri was not happy about the sentences received today by Michael and Jeffrey Derderian.

"Today's hearing also served as a reminder that justice has not been served by this plea bargain," Carcieri said in a statement released early this evening.

"Nobody who witnessed today's emotional testimony could believe that the punishment fit the crime. I am saddened that the legal process produced this decidedly incomplete result."

He continued:

"I am very disappointed that this deal for the Derderians will undermine our ability to get at the truth of what happened that awful night," Carcieri said. "As a result of this plea arrangement, the victims and families will continue to struggle under the weight of hundreds of unanswered questions.”

A short time earlier, Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who also said he disagreed with the sentences, pledged to release evidence and other material collected for the trials as soon as possible.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:55 PM | Permalink

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The city of West Warwick should be held reponsible for this tragedy. My understanding is the Station was granted a fire permit two weeks prior to the fire. This accident was not intentional. My cousin was at the Station when the fire started. He lost one of his best friends.

Connecticut | September 30, 2006 9:11 AM link

MY NAME IS BOB JOHNSON SR., FATHER OF MY BELOVED SON DEREK BRIAN JOHNSON, A VICTIM 0F THIS TRAGEDY.
I SUPPORT THE COMMENTS OF GOVERNOR CARCIERI, WHO HAS THROUGH THIS ENTIRE DEVASTATING TIME, FROM DAY ONE, BEEN OUR BEACON OF HOPE, LOVE AND MOST IMPORTANT, A COMPASSIONATE, AND CARING PERSON, ALONG WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE. THEY HAVE ATTENDED SO MANY OF OUR EVENTS OF REMEMBRANCE, TO STAND WITH US IN OUR HORRENDOUS GRIEF, THAT THIS TRAGEDY PRODUCED. HE IS A MAN OF HONOR AND SINCER ITY, OF WHOM I OWE SO MUCH FOR HIS CONSOLEABLE PRESENCE. IN MY MIND, THERE ARE FEW RHODE ISLAND POLITICIANS I HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR, BUT HE IS NUMBER ONE ON MY LIST. I WOULD ALSO INCLUDE MY DEAR FRIEND LEO COSTANTINO, A WEST WARWICK COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU , AND I HOPE SOMEDAY TO SEE GOV. CARCIERI IN THE OVAL OFFICE
BOB JOHNSON, DEREKS' DAD, EASTON PA.

ROBERT J. JOHNSON SR. DEREKS, DAD | October 1, 2006 2:33 PM link

September 29, 2006

Station fire: Governor criticizes Derderian sentences

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