DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Antonio and Maribe Espaillat / El Nacional

The preliminary trial against Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the owners of the now-infamous Jet Set nightclub, has been scheduled for 12 January 2026. The date was set by Judge Raymundo Mejía of the First Investigating Court of the National District, just one week after the Public Ministry formally filed an indictment.

The Espaillat siblings face charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery stemming from the devastating roof collapse at their popular venue on 8 April 2025, which claimed the lives of 236 people and injured over 180, according to official reports released Friday.

The tragedy, one of the deadliest non-natural disasters in the country’s history, occurred in the early hours of the morning while hundreds of patrons were attending a performance by Dominican merengue star Rubby Pérez...