Trial over 'Puls' nightclub fire resumes as construction experts present findings
Experts say the building was illegally converted in 2012; 63 people died and more than 200 were injured.
The trial over the fire at the Puls nightclub resumed today in the courtroom at Idrizovo where construction experts are presenting their findings for the building; 63 people died in the blaze and more than 200 were injured.
Engineering evidence and questions about the 2012 conversion
Expert witnesses testified at a previous hearing that the Puls building had been converted illegally from an industrial facility into a nightclub contrary to the urban plan. The engineering report also found that gypsum-board partitions and doors had been installed and that these elements represented a direct obstacle to evacuation.
The court heard evidence from two construction experts, Dusica Trpchevska Angelkovikj and Marijana Lazarevska, who addressed aspects of urban planning and structural work in their expert reports.
Marijana Lazarevska began presenting photographs in the courtroom showing the installation of steel beams and columns on the ground floor of the building — identified as building 1 — dated 2012 and linked to the conversion from a carpet warehouse into a hospitality venue.
The defence objected to the presentation of images on the grounds that it was not clear where in the evidentiary file the photographs were located. The court postponed the hearing and instructed that at today’s continuation the photographic records should be presented with a numerical index.
Earlier expert testimony also noted that the municipality had been responsible for checking the change of use in 2012. The court is expected to continue questioning the experts and to review the indexed photographic material at the resumed session.
Photo: press material from the event
