Vidal Plast owners acquitted for San Cristóbal tragedy
The Second Criminal Chamber of the Judicial District of San Cristóbal has issued an acquittal in favor of the owners of the company Vidal Plast, after concluding that the Public Prosecutor’s Office did not present the necessary evidence to support criminal liability for the explosion that occurred on August 14, 2023. The tragedy, which deeply impacted Dominican society, left a regrettable toll of 38 people dead and 59 injured.
Citizens Edward Armando Vidal Garrido, Maribel Sandoval Almánzar de Vidal, and Mercedes Altagracia Vidal Sandoval, along with the commercial entity Vidal Plast, were cleared of charges after it was determined that the prosecuting body failed to overcome the presumption of innocence that protects them.
Details of the court ruling
The court based its decision on insufficient evidence. For a conviction for involuntary manslaughter to prosper, it was essential for the Public Prosecutor’s Office to demonstrate a direct and causal relationship between a negligent action or omission by the defendants and the fatal outcome. According to the judges’ criteria, said link was not established with the degree of certainty required in criminal matters.
The court determined that the evidence gathered did not reach the evidentiary standard necessary to issue a conviction, further ordering the immediate cessation of all coercive measures that were imposed on the accused.
Research context
The original accusation focused on alleged negligent actions in the handling of industrial materials within the company’s facilities. The explosion, which occurred around 3:10 in the afternoon on Padre Ayala Street, caused a blast wave that destroyed or severely affected more than 12 homes and nearly 70 commercial establishments, marking a turning point in the infrastructure and safety of the area.
Next steps
Although acquittal is the current result of the trial on the merits, the technical and legal details explaining this ruling will be released in full on September 7th. On that date, the full reading of the sentence will take place, where the legal grounds that led the judges to rule out the criminal liability of those involved will be set forth.
With this resolution, the criminal proceedings in this instance conclude, leaving the case as one of the most tragic episodes recorded in the recent history of San Cristóbal.
