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September 5, 2007

Update: Fire victims' kin arrive at Biechele parole hearing

WARWICK -- About a dozen relatives of Station nightclub fire victims have assembled so far in this city's police station community room, where they can tell the state Parole Board tonight whether to grant parole to the rock band tour manager who triggered the disastrous blaze.

A few family members who have indicated they do not want members of the press in the room are going to go in first.

As is the practice with any inmate, Daniel Biechele will not attend tonight's special hearing.

Biechele set off the fireworks that caused the West Warwick fire in 2003, which killed 100 people.

It is Biechele's first eligibility for parole. He pleaded guilty last year to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to serve four years in prison. He's served 16 months.

State Parole Board members on Sept. 19 will go to the Adult Correctional Institutions' minimum security building to meet with Biechele and other inmates up for parole consideration that day, said Ann Marie Bolvin, executive secretary for the state Parole Board. Board members will meet with each person individually and render a decision.

The Parole Board takes relatives' comments into consideration when making a decision.

Board Chairwoman Lisa Holley says the majority of letters the board has received from victims' families have supported Biechele's parole bid.

The two co-owners of The Station pleaded no contest to manslaughter charges.
Michael Derderian is serving a four-year prison sentence but is not yet eligible for parole. His brother, Jeffrey, was spared jail time.

Extra: See projo.com's continuing report on the fire and its aftermath.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Meaghan Wims and The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:36 PM | Permalink

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