News24
Date: 2015-12-01
By: Wally Santana, AP
Taipei – Families of victims killed during an explosion at a “colour party” in Taiwan that left
Student protesters against changes to their curriculum shout slogans as they occupy the area inside the gates of the Ministry of Education in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, July 31, 2015. The protests over the school curriculum changes are due to what many call a return to a “China-centric” historical view, including the downplaying of key incidents in Taiwan’s history. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
15 dead and hundreds injured are calling for the event organiser to receive a stiff sentence, as a procedural hearing opened in Taipei on Tuesday.
In October, Lu Chung-chi, the owner of Color Play Asia that organised the event, was charged with negligence leading to death and injury and faces up to five years in prison.
The accident occurred in June at the Formosa Fun Coast water park, just outside the capital Taipei, when clouds of multi-coloured corn starch sprayed on revellers ignited after heat from stage lights triggered a blast that ripped through the crowd.
The event organiser appeared in a Taipei court on Tuesday as a four-day procedural hearing commenced, where relatives of victims gave testimony.
Critical condition
“[Lu] really destroyed our very happy family,” the mother of Wu Yen-chieh, who died after 67 days in hospital, told the court.
“[Lu] really destroyed our very happy family,” the mother of Wu Yen-chieh, who died after 67 days in hospital, told the court.
“Even if it’s a death sentence I won’t forgive him,” she said, holding a portrait of her deceased daughter. [FULL STORY]
