It was five years ago that 21 people died in his E2 nightclub, but Wednesday prosecutors dropped involuntary manslaughter charges against owner Dwain Kyles.
It was five years ago that 21 people died in his E2 nightclub, but Wednesday prosecutors dropped involuntary manslaughter charges against owner Dwain Kyles.
At a court hearing Wednesday, Cook County prosecutors said that without key evidence that an appellate court previously ruled inadmissible, they had no choice but to drop charges.
“Due to the appellate court’s ruling, we had insufficient evidence to proceed with the criminal case against Dwain Kyles,” said Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.
Despite being acquitted of criminal charges, after Wednesday’s court hearing, Kyles said his heart is still saddened by the tragedy that occurred at his club.
Judge Dennis Porter ruled that prosecutors could not introduce as evidence a Housing Court order that required E2 to close because of code violations.
Prosecutors had hoped to bring some closure to the incident by winning a conviction for the deaths of customers who were trapped and crushed in a stairwell at the nightclub Feb. 17, 2003. The victims reportedly rushed into the passageway after someone used pepper spray to break up a fight against two women. At least 50 other people were injured that night at the club.
Originally, Kyles was charged along with the club’s manager and a party promoter, with involuntary manslaughter. But Judge Porter later acquitted club owner Calvin Hollins Jr., his son and club manager Calvin Hollins III and party promoter Marco Flores. And in July, an appellate court upheld Porter’s ruling.
Kyles still faces several civil lawsuits filed by family members of the victims. ______ Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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