By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — The loss of two firefighters in the 2007 Deutsche Bank building fire was tragic, but so many government agencies dropped the ball that day it's preposterous to blame the people on trial, a defense attorney said Tuesday.
Edward Little, an attorney for Jeffrey Melofchik, 49, one of three men charged in the deaths of firefighters Joseph Graffagnino, 33, and Robert Beddia, 53, said there's no reason to blame the defendants because city agencies involved in monitoring the faulty emergency water system at the 130 Liberty St. found no fault with their own conduct.
"If they didn't see the danger here, he didn't see the danger here...There's no reason to put this on anyone here," Little said. "Tragedy happens. It is terrible and tragic and heartbreaking that these two men died but sympathy, sorrow or anger of some sense of vengeance is no reason to destroy the lives of other people."
Prosecutors have argued the demolition supervisors deliberately cut out 42 feet of standpipe from the building's basement, for the purpose of passing an unrelated inspection. They decided not to replace it because it would have cost the general contractor money, the DA said.
Mitchel Alvo, 52, Salvatore DePaola, 56, and Melofchik, all of whom had been contracted to demolish the building, face charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and other offenses.
Prosecutors have argued the demolition supervisors deliberately cut out 42 feet of standpipe from the building's basement, for the purpose of passing an unrelated inspection. They decided not to replace it because it would have cost the general contractor money, the DA said.
Defense opening arguments were slated to resume on Tuesday afternoon. The trial is expected to last at least four months. Each defendant faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
