The First Court of Instruction of the National District has rescheduled the preliminary hearing against Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, owners of the iconic Jet Set nightclub, for Monday, 16 March 2026. The adjournment was granted to ensure all parties involved in the legal process are formally notified. El Dia reports that the Attorney General Office has received 346 claims of the at least 365 deaths caused by the collapse of the concrete roof on patrons and staff.
Presiding Judge Raymundo Mejía announced that once the proceedings resume, sessions will be held every Monday to maintain a consistent schedule for the high-profile case.
The hearing aims to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the Espaillat siblings to a plenary trial. They face charges stemming from the catastrophic roof collapse on 8 April 2024, which resulted in at least 236 deaths and dozens of injuries.
The atmosphere at the Palace of Justice was charged with emotion on Monday morning. Relatives of the victims and various activist groups gathered early to demand accountability. As the defendants arrived, they were met with shouts of “murderers” from protesters lining the corridors.
“Murderers, both of you. Your conscience won’t let you sleep,” one woman shouted as the siblings walked through the courthouse hallway, Noticias SIN reported.
The Public Ministry has filed both criminal and civil charges against the owners, citing a pattern of “immense irresponsibility.” The specific charges include involuntary homicide (under Art. 319 of the Dominican Penal Code), involuntary battery and injuries (based on Art. 320 of the Penal Code) and gross negligence and imprudence, for failing to correct known weaknesses of the decades old building where the nightclub was located and also for not canceling the concert when evidence of a major problem was presented to the management.
According to the indictment, the owners allegedly overloaded the concrete roof with heavy industrial air conditioning units and large water tanks over a 14-year period without conducting necessary technical resistance studies. The club operated in what was built to be a movie house and was subsequently turned into a night club.
Prosecutors argue the collapse was not an unavoidable accident but the result of systemic neglect. The case file details that management had been warned about severe leaks and falling debris as recently as early 2024.
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El Dia
13 January 2026