The main defendant in the Kocani nightclub fire trial, the “Pulse” nightclub owner Dejan Jovanov (R), along with his lawyers, sits in the courtroom next to the Idrizovo correctional facility near Skopje. Photo: EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI
The owner of the Pulse nightclub, which burst into flames during a live concert, killing 63 mostly young people, pleaded not guilty to serious crimes against public safety at the trial in Skopje on Tuesday.
Club owner Dejan Jovanov, the main defendant in the trial, told the court: “I know what I am accused of, and it is clear to me. But I do not feel guilty of these crimes that I am charged with.”
In tears, Jovanov insisted he was unaware of safety omissions inside the club. “Dozens of generations have grown up in that club and everybody knows how much I cared for safety,” he said.
His defence lawyer Ivana Kosovska placed the blame for the immediate cause of the fire on the band DNK [DNA] that performed that night and used pyrotechnics, which the investigation has determined caused fire to spread throughout the club rapidly.
Kosovska also said that Jovanov could not have been aware of the safety shortcomings in the club as he was no safety expert. “This should have been done by the relevant institutions, to carry out regular checks and point out the irregularities, so that they could be corrected,” said Kosovska.
All the other defendants also pleaded not guilty at Tuesday’s session. Almost all said they understood the accusations and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Among the defendants are club and company managers, inspectors and former heads of state inspectorates, three former mayors of the town of Kocani, two former economy ministers, security guards and other civil servants.
They are accused of participating in or turning a blind eye to years of systemic failings and corruption related to the work of the nightclub, resulting in the deadly fire.
The three legal entities accused in the case also rejected any guilt through their defence lawyers.
The fire, the worst tragedy in North Macedonia’s recent history, happened on March 16 when sparks from pyrotechnic devices used by hip-hop duo DNK ignited the ceiling of the nightclub, which was packed well beyond capacity, the investigation determined.
The fire spread rapidly, sending thick smoke into the single-exit venue. Fifty-nine people died at the scene or soon afterwards in hospital. The death toll rose to 63 in the following months. More than 200 people were injured, many severely, suffering burns and respiratory damage.
Members of the band DNK, including the two frontmen, were killed in the fire.
The trial started on November 19. In his opening statement, prosecutor Borce Janev said the evidence would show the “nightclub has been a death trap” waiting to happen since it was opened more than a decade ago.
A separate investigation is being conducted into several police officers in relation to alleged wrongdoings concerning the safety of the nightclub.
Due to the many defendants, witnesses and the large amount of evidence to be presented before the court, the trial is expected to last for a long time.
