The trial of the Pulse nightclub fire continued with the reading of testimonies from two girls. One of them, who survived the tragedy, said that the establishment regularly operated without checking IDs and without marked fire exits. According to the witness, they entered the critical evening without an ID check, and the nightclub had no clear evacuation routes.
The girl said that pyrotechnic effects were used during the performance of the DNK music band, which, according to her, the group used at other performances. She noticed the fire after another person present shouted that “it’s on fire”, after which panic and a push towards the only exit she knew occurred.
In her written statement, which was read before the court, she indicated that there was chaos on the stairs and at the main door, that she was pulled out by other people present and then taken to hospital due to injuries and smoke inhalation.
Previously, the statement of the other girl, who was employed in the cafeteria of the Pulse nightclub owner, who was present at the club with her boyfriend on the night of the tragedy, was read before the court. The boyfriend died in the fire, as well as her close friends and acquaintances.
Before the reading of the girls’ statements began, the defense requested that this evidence not be presented, explaining that the girls, as they stated, had a mental disorder, which was also shown by the expert examination.
The prosecution assessed that there were no obstacles to the use of the statements, emphasizing the need to protect the victims and avoid additional victimization.
