« Station Fire: Prosecutor asking for prison time | Today | Station Fire: "I wanted them to say they were guilty" »

September 29, 2006

Station Fire: Jeffrey Derderian: 'Saying I'm sorry not enough'

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Michael Derderian cries as his brother, Jeffrey, makes his statement to the court.

Jeffrey Derderian, seated in the witness box and reading from a prepared statement, repeatedly apologized for The Station fire, while emphasizing:

"I certainly know saying I'm sorry is not enough."

Derderian, a co-owner, was among those at the club on the night of the fire.

As he talked about that night, his voice began to break down, and he said, "There are many days when I wish I didn't make it out of that building."

And, he added, "I know many of you wish I hadn't, too."

He said he wishes he had known how dangerous the foam was that the brothers put on the walls of the club as soundproofing. And he acknowledged that without a trial, many questions remain.

"I promise to make myself available," he said, to answer those questions.

There's a long list of mistakes that led to the tragedy -- "including our own," he said. "I'm not here to blame others. I understand your anger."

"I wish I could give you back what you lost, but I know I can't," he said.

He spoke of those lost in the fire -- husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers.

"That torment will be with me every day of my life," he said. "It's with me when I go to bed at night. It's with me when I get up in the morning."

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 3:15 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)