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« Another warm day: Record breaking? Maybe. | Today | Teen driver in Lincoln fatal crash faces arraignment » January 9, 2008Derderian parole hearing begins tonightWARWICK -- The parole board will hear from relatives of some of the 100 people killed by a nightclub fire as it considers whether to release one of the club's former owners from prison. Michael Derderian is serving a four-year sentence for the February 2003 fire at The Station in West Warwick. He's eligible for parole after serving 16 months. Some victims' families say they will urge the parole board to not release Derderian early. They continue to hold him responsible and say they're not convinced he has shown genuine remorse. The fire began when pyrotechnics from the band Great White ignited flammable soundproofing foam that the Derderians had installed. Daniel Biechele, the band tour manager who ignited the pyrotechnics, was granted parole and is due out in March. Parole board chairwoman Lisa Holley says she's received letters both supporting and opposing Derderian's parole bid. But some who supported Biechele's parole say they won't do the same for Derderian because they're not convinced he's shown genuine remorse. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Warwick Police Department. It will start off closed to the public, as those family members who wish to testify in private to the board speak first. After they're done, the meeting will open to the public, with more testimony. Derderian will not be there. -- The Associated Press, with reports from Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker
Posted by Jack Perry CommentsK | January 9, 2008 1:24 PM link It should be pointed out that the parole board would be making an exception to its guidelines by releasing Derderian after one-third of his sentence. See http://rilawjournal.com/?p=712.
Jon | January 9, 2008 3:04 PM link no parole. that would be letting someone off way too easy~ k | January 9, 2008 4:58 PM link Walt | January 9, 2008 10:31 PM link While I cannot imagine the pain all the families and friend of all the victims feel - I can say as a volunteer at the phone bank during that awful time - has effected my life forever. While I have no doubt that there was never any intention of them hurting or killing anyone - that is something that they will have to live with everyday for the remainder of their life. While fortunately family and loved ones will have good memories they can call on the help them - the Dederians's will have to live with the fact that it was them and them alone that caused all the death and injuries involved. Keeping him in prision will not benefit him or help the grieving families. Making him work to earn funds for the charities will serve to continue to remind him that while they cannot never repay what families lost - he can raise money to try to help them go back to some kind of living. Hating someone takes up way to much energy that could be used to help families and surviors try to salvage some kind of life. While the families will never have peace - honoring their loved ones is more important. annie | January 10, 2008 5:18 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
While I feel for the families who have lost loved ones, I do not understand why they feel that Mr. Derderian has not shown "true remorse". The man pleaded guilty, has helped found a charity for the children left behind, and has always appeared genuinely remorseful (in my humble opinion). Dan Biechele actually concealed and lit the pyrotechnics that started the fire, yet he received parole. Mr. Derderian was not even in RI when the fire occurred! If one gets parole, the other should as well.