Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Kaprun-Accident: Sentence of Acquittal confirmed

In November 2000 155 people - mostly tourists who went for skiing - died when a cablecar at the Kaprun Glacier burned down. The fire was caused by a defective radiant heater in one of the carriages. In February 2004 all of the accused (including directors of the cablecar company, the company which produced the cablecar and official experts who were responsible for the operating permit)were found not guilty because a danger of a fire had not been forseeable. Court of Appeal (Oberlandesgericht Linz) now dismissed the appeal filed by public prosecutor who blamed the judgement for being remote from every day life. However, with the decision of the Court of Appeal the acquittals have now become final.

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)