Prosecutors presented three witnesses Monday who contradicted testimony by Ghost Ship warehouse master tenant Derick Almena, creative director Max Harris and other defense witnesses in the trial for a fire at an Oakland warehouse that killed 36 people in 2016.
The witnesses who took the stand were among the last in the lengthy trial, which began April 30, and testimony is expected to conclude Tuesday.
Almena, 49, and Harris, 29, are charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for the blaze during a music party at the 10,000-square-foot warehouse in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue in Oakland’s Fruitvale district the night of Dec. 2, 2016.
Alameda County prosecutors allege that Almena and Harris are criminally responsible for the fire because the people at the party didn’t have the time or opportunity to escape the blaze since the warehouse didn’t have important safeguards, such as fire sprinklers, smoke alarms and lighted exit signs.
Prosecutors also allege that Almena and Harris violated terms of the building’s lease, which only called for it to be used as a warehouse for an artists’ collective by turning it into a living space for up to 25 people and hosting underground music parties there.
Darold Leite, a friend of Almena who once lived at the warehouse, testified last week that he heard what sounded like an argument and bottles being broken shortly before the deadly blaze. Leite also said he told people who appeared to be arguing to “knock it off” and that said he saw seven or eight people in dark clothes who he didn’t recognize rush out a side door after the apparent argument.
Leite’s testimony supports the defense’s contention that the fire was an act of arson that Almena and Harris couldn’t have prevented. But federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Whitney Hameth testified on Monday that when she interviewed Leite on two occasions shortly after the fire he didn’t tell her he heard the sound of broken bottles, heard a fight or saw a group of people wearing dark clothes go out a side door.
Hameth also said that although Leite testified that he’s a friend of Almena, he claimed he didn’t know Almena’s last name when she interviewed him.
When Almena was on the witness stand last week, he accused former Oakland Acting Assistant Fire Marshal Maria Sabatini of lying when she testified in May that she never entered the warehouse when investigating an arson fire on a sidewalk couch outside the warehouse on Sept. 26, 2014.
Almena’s testimony supports the defense’s allegation that firefighters, police officers and other authorities who visited the warehouse before the deadly fire in 2016 never told Almena and Harris they thought the building was unsafe or told them to make changes to bring it up to code. But Oakland police Officer Michael Erickson testified Monday that when he went to the warehouse shortly after the 2014 arson fire he didn’t go inside because it appeared that all the damage was on the exterior.
Erickson said when he talked to Almena outside the warehouse, Almena said Sabatini had already been there and left him her business card. Harris testified in June that after the fire broke out on Dec. 2, 2016, he ran back to his living space to grab his cellphone. Harris also said he tried calling 911 to report the fire.
But Alameda County District Attorney Inspector Paul Baulzouman testified Tuesday that when he interviewed Harris shortly after he was arrested on June 5, 2017, he didn’t say anything about going back to his space to get his phone.
Baulzouman also said he didn’t find any indication that Harris ever called 911 to report the blaze.
Prosecutors will present two more rebuttal witnesses when the trial resumes on Tuesday and then there will be a long break until closing arguments are presented the week of July 29.
Jury deliberations are expected to begin on Aug. 5.
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CONTACT: Court of Judge Trina Thompson (510) 891-6050
Alameda County DA spokeswoman Teresa Drenick (510) 272-6280
Tony Serra for Almena (415) 986-5591
Brian Getz for Almena (415) 912-5886
Curtis Briggs and Tyler Smith for Harris (415) 780-6412
Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
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