Republished May 14, 2016 - 1:45 PM
Original Publication Date May 14, 2016 - 12:25 PM
MEXICO CITY - A federal judge has sentenced nine former officials and two other people to 20 or more years in prison for a fire at a day care centre in which 49 children died.
The Judicial Council that oversees the courts says those convicted include both state and federal officials who were responsible for regulating the ABC day care centre in the northwestern city of Hermosillo. The homicide sentences range from 20 to 29 years.
Investigators determined that an overheated cooling unit started a fire at a state government warehouse and spread to the roof of the neighbouring school on June 5, 2009.
Witnesses testified that flaming pieces of tarp rained down on the children as people fled through the smoke to the one functioning exit.
The decision was announced Saturday
News from © The Associated Press, 2016