One year after the Jet Set nightclub tragedy, Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso warned that the justice system must not become a stage for “unnecessary delays” in the face of the victims’ suffering, as reported in Listin Diario. The tragedy, which remains one of the most significant structural failures in recent Dominican history, occurred on 8 April 2025. Reynoso spoke on occasion of the first anniversary of the tragedy and shared the indignation of the victims’ relatives of the delay in the actual start of the hearings of the case.
The accused siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat are free on bail. They face penal charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Reynoso stated that the Public Ministry has a constitutional mission to protect the rights of those affected by the collapse of the nightclub, an event that resulted in 236 fatalities and approximately 180 injuries. The high death toll and the nature of the collapse have placed the case under intense public and legal scrutiny.
“The victims deserve a response within a reasonable timeframe. We are talking about pain that affects thousands of people,” the head prosecutor remarked, noting that the case involves a total of roughly 400 victims between the deceased and the injured.
Defense request labeled “unnecessary”
The preliminary hearing for the Jet Set case is being presided over by Judge Raymundo Antonio Mejía Zorrilla, of the First Court of Instruction of the National District. On 6 April 2026, he authorized the filing of a new technical report. Judge Mejía issued Order No. 057-2026, authorizing the presenting of a separate technical expert report. This counter-report, to be conducted by four specialist engineers, and is described by the Espaillat defense as one that aims to provide a definitive analysis of the structural materials and the causes of the collapse, ensuring “equality of arms” between the prosecution and the defense.
Yet, Reynoso characterized the request for a counter-expert report to be filed by the defense for the accused, siblings Antonio Espaillat and Maribel Espaillat, as “unnecessary and absurd.”
According to Reynoso, the defense’s theory regarding a supposed explosive device lacks any evidentiary basis when weighed against a case file that demonstrates structural failures caused by an overload on the building’s roof. The prosecution’s stance suggests that the structural integrity of the venue was compromised long before the fatal night.
A “predictable and avoidable” event
“Subjecting the process to explosives testing or soil studies without any factual indications only seeks to unjustifiably postpone the judicial decision regarding an event that was predictable and avoidable,” Reynoso emphasized.
The magistrate further criticized the inconsistency of the defendants, pointing out that while they express respect for the victims in public statements, their legal maneuvers appear designed to obstruct the merits of the case. This legal friction comes as the technical report that is part of the prosecution file indicates that the structure already showed signs of mechanical fatigue that were “deliberately ignored” by those in charge.
Due process for victims
Reynoso clarified that due process is not an exclusive prerogative of the defendants. She affirmed that access to prompt and fulfilled justice is a fundamental right belonging to all parties involved. She added that the Public Ministry aims to prevent the right to a defense from being used to violate the victims’ right to the truth.
The prosecutor guaranteed that the state possesses a solid case file supporting the criminal responsibility of those involved. She assured that the Public Ministry will remain vigilant against any attempt to distort the facts with theories divorced from scientific reality, reaffirming the commitment to pursue all measures to ensure that the affected families receive the judicial ruling they have awaited for one year.
Principal criminal charges
According to the 156-page indictment presented by the Public Ministry on 6 April 2026, siblings Antonio Espaillat López and Maribel Espaillat Veras face criminal charges stemming from the 8 April 2025 roof collapse that killed 236 people and injured approximately 180.
The defendants are being prosecuted under the Dominican Penal Code for:
• Involuntary Manslaughter: Based on Article 319 of the Penal Code, which addresses deaths resulting from “clumsiness, imprudence, inattention, negligence, or non-observance of regulations.”
• Involuntary Assault and Battery: Related to the nearly 180 individuals who sustained physical injuries during the collapse.
Aggravating factors and allegations
The prosecution, led by Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso, has outlined a “systematic pattern of gross negligence” that could lead to maximum sentencing within the involuntary manslaughter category (up to five years in prison). Key allegations include:
• Structural negligence: For years, the owners allegedly performed modifications and structural interventions without notifying municipal or state institutions, leaving no record of inspections.
• Overloading of the structure: The indictment claims the defendants aggravated the risk by installing high-volume climate control equipment and water tanks on the roof without technical resistance studies.
• Ignored warnings: Technical reports indicate that signs of mechanical fatigue were “deliberately ignored.” The prosecution specifically cites an incident on the day of the collapse where an employee requested to cancel the event after a piece of the ceiling fell and injured a guest, but the request was denied.
• Tampering and intimidation: The Public Ministry has accused the Espaillats of attempting to manipulate, bribe, or intimidate employees to prevent them from testifying or to force them to sign liability waivers in exchange for their liquidations.
Current legal status
The siblings are currently defending themselves in liberty after a judge imposed a RD$50 million (approximately US$850,000) financial guarantee and a travel ban. The next hearing is scheduled for 20 April 2026, to allow civil claimants to finalize their damage petitions.
Read more:
Listin Diario
DR1 News
DR1 News
YouTube The terrorist explosion theory
9 April 2026