PROVIDENCE -- Thomas Dickinson, an appellate specialist who
served as deputy attorney general under Jeffrey B. Pine, has signed on
as co-counsel for Jeffrey A. Derderian, who is charged with 200 counts
of involuntary-manslaughter in connection with last February's fire at
The Station nightclub.
Dickinson now practices law with Pine, who has been representing Jeffrey
Derderian since shortly after the fire. Jeffrey Derderian owned The
Station with his brother, Michael A. Derderian, who is being prosecuted
on identical charges, and is being represented by another former
prosecutor under Pine, Kathleen M. Hagerty.
Also charged is the former tour manager of the rock band Great White,
Daniel M. Biechele, who set off pyrotechnics that caused the fire at The
Station in which 100 people died. The fire began when sparks from the
fireworks ignited highly flammable soundproofing foam that the
Derderians installed on the walls and the ceiling of the nightclub.
The case has been assigned to Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan
who has not yet set a trial date. The case is still many months away
from being ready for trial.
The office of Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch must turn over to the
defense, as part of the pretrial discovery process, hundreds of witness
statements and tape recordings of grand jury proceedings that spanned
more than nine months.
Prosecutors have taken witness statements from everyone who survived the
fire at the West Warwick nightclub. The Providence Journal has found
more than 300 people who survived the blaze in addition to those who
died.
Thus far, prosecutors have not put any of the material they have built
their criminal case around in the public record. They have asked the
court for -- and Darigan has agreed to -- an extension of time to turn
over to the defense all materials it has amassed for its prosecution of
the Derderians and Biechele.
The defense is asking for the following information in pretrial
discovery:
All statements given by the Derderians and Biechele.
All photographic and documentary evidence, sound recordings or other
tangible objects the state intends to use to prosecute its case before a
jury.
Results of physical or mental examinations and scientific tests or
experiments made in connection with the deadly blaze, and any leftover
material from the tests that were conducted.
Names and addresses of everyone whom prosecutors plan to call as
state's witnesses at the trial, a summary of their anticipated testimony
and their grand jury testimony.
Prior convictions, if any, of everyone who might testify.
All warrants that were issued in connection with the grand jury
investigation of the fire and the papers accompanying them, including
affidavits, transcripts and an inventory of what was seized.
Any evidence in the state's possession that could exonerate the
defendants -- known under the law as exculpatory evidence.
Any inducements, rewards, promises or agreements made or offered in
exchange for testimony from any potential state's witness.
All audio recordings of the West Warwick Police and Fire Departments
relative to the fire.
