Witness to be focus of nightclub fire case

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The attorney for Michael Derderian, facing charges after a fire at his Rhode Island nightclub, plans to attack the credibility of a main prosecution witness.

The Providence (R.I.) Journal reported Derderian's attorney, Kathleen Haggerty, said she will focus her defense case on discrediting Daniel Biechele rather than place the responsibility for the deadly 2003 fire on Derderian's co-owner brother, Jeffrey.

During the Feb. 20 fire at the brothers' nightclub, The Station, 100 people lost their lives and another 200 were injured, leading to both brothers being charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter under separate legal theories.

Haggerty said agent Paul Woolnaugh, who along with Biechele represented the band Great White, will provide testimony that shows Biechele lied regarding details concerning the fire, the newspaper said. Biechele lit the special effects that led to the fire, but said he always asked club permission before the pyrotechnics.

"(Biechele) knew he burned the place down, of course he claimed, 'Oh I had permission,'" said Haggerty. "The state is going to want the jury to believe that he had permission."

Biechele has already pleaded guilty to his charges and been sentenced. Michael Derderian's trial is set to begin next month and will likely last several months, the newspaper said.