Brothers sentenced in R.I. nightclub fire

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A Rhode Island judge Friday sentenced the owners of the burned-out Station nightclub then suspended most of their sentences.

Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. sentenced Michael Derderian to 15 years in prison, 11 years suspended, and Jeffrey Derderian to 10 years, suspended, as part of a plea agreement.

Michael Derderian will serve four years in a minimum-security prison and then will be ordered into a work-release program and serve three years probation. Jeffrey Derderian will serve 500 hours community service and three years probation.

The sentences stem from the Feb. 20, 2003, fire that killed 100 people as a result of an illegal pyrotechnics display during a performance by Great White. The brothers pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter.

"I just want to say how deeply sorry I am for the role I played in that tragedy," Michael Derderian told the court, the Providence, R.I., Journal reported.

"There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. We know that everyone there just wanted to have fun. ... Like my brother said, we never intended for this to happen."