Today a judge overturned the conviction of a landlord whose illegally subdivided Bronx building caught fire in 2005, killing two firefighters as they struggled to find an exit. The firemen's widows were enraged by the decision, reports the Daily News. "The scar has just been opened up again and again and again," said Jeanette Meyran, whose husband died on what's come to be known as Black Sunday. "It's such an abuse of the system."
Firefighters who survived the blaze weren't happy either: "It's an absolute disgrace," said Jeffrey Cool. "This judge claims to hold us in high regard, but that's total bull." Last year the landlord and his business partner were convicted on charges of criminal negligent homicide and reckless endangerment, but today the Bronx judge told the courtroom there wasn't enough evidence against them, and threw out the case. Two tenants who were said to be responsible for illegally subdividing the apartment were also acquitted last year.
"An individual or entity cannot be convicted of a crime without evidence of actual knowledge," said Justice Margaret Clancy in her decision. The firefighters, Curtis Meyran and John Bellew, jumped to their deaths after seeking escape from a room with no fire exit.
Recently, the landlord of a Brooklyn tenement where five died has been investigated for illegal subdivisions that trapped residents inside as the building burned.
