Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., November 20, 2007 Kislev 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Magazine Week's End Anglo File

The Versailles wedding hall following the collapse of the third floor. (Uriel Sinai) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 15:49 20/11/2007 Engineer convicted for Versailles hall disaster appeals sentence By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Pal Kal, Eli Ron  Engineer Eli Ron, who developed the "PalKal" method of construction used in a Jerusalem banquet hall that collapsed during a 2001 wedding, killing 23 people, appealed his sentence of five years to the Supreme Court on Tuesday in order to have his conviction revoked. Ron was convicted in December last year, along with three other engineers, of the negligent deaths of the 23 people who died in the May 2001 disaster. The four were also convicted of negligent assault and injuring 356 people. Halfway through the reception at the wedding of Keren and Asaf Dror, guests plunged through a massive hole appeared in the floor. Advertisement At the same time, the State Prosecution also filed an appeal, seeking to repeal Ron's acquittal of manslaughter charges, and harsher penalties on Ron and the other engineers who had been convicted in the affair - Uri Pesach, Dan Shefer and Shimon Kaufman - who were sentenced to 12-30 months in prison. Ron claims in his appeal that "the District Court ruling is thoroughly deficient, especially in failing to give adequate weight to the blatant contradiction between the state's position that Ron is guilty of developing a method of construction which fails to predict flaws, and its position that the owners of the banquet hall have ignored clear indications that the floor was about to collapse." On her part, the head of the State Prosecutor's criminal department, Attorney Vered Barzilai, claimed in the appeal that "there were elements of criminal intent that meet the legal requirements of manslaughter charges." She added that "the court failed to distinguish between Ron's awareness of the possible risk to human life and his assessment of the risk, which is not a prerequisite of criminal intent. Even if he sincerely bought into the engineering concept of PalKal, the court ruling states that he was conscious of the safety risks that it entailed, and therefore his acquittal was unjustified." Related articles: Versailles wedding hall engineer jailed for 23 negligent deaths Building safety / Hazardous PalKal is still in use Bookmark to del.icio.us The reek of hatred An ex-chief rabbi's recent remarks may spark a legal fight. Natural bombardment A hailstorm set off hundreds of cluster bombs lying in Lebanese soil.   1.   Eli Ron`s appeal - double the time! 22:31  |  Shaul 20/11/07

Today Online Burston: Dying of occupation - a case of cancer and the right Responses: 162 Mourners of terror victim block entrance to Palestinian village Responses: 216 Israel's Conservative movement threatens to sue ex-chief rabbi Responses: 120 Settlers: Palestinians vandalizing Jewish farmers' property Responses: 100 Rosner: Fewer Americans think Israel ready to make peace Responses: 54 Rosner's Domain More Americans ready to abandon Israel if support means more terror Guest: America's universities are failing a generation of students The Democrats are struggling with Iran (WTR) Poll: Should Israel "get used" to the Iranian bomb? More Headlines 22:49 Syria, Saudi Arabia among invitees to peace summit 20:46 Olmert, Mubarak agree to step up cooperation to prevent arms smuggling 20:27 Mourners at terror victim's funeral block entrance to Palestinian village 18:03 IDF chief says doesn't expect new intifada in wake of summit 23:06 Dutch court saves Anne Frank's favorite chestnut tree from being felled 17:55 Report: Russia to provide Egypt with nuclear expertise 18:17 Dozens injured as passenger bus crashes into truck near Acre 15:49 Engineer convicted for Versailles hall disaster appeals sentence 15:03 Poll: Palestinians back peace bid, but don't expect progress Previous Editions Select Day 19 nov 18 nov 16 nov 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov

Special Offers Advertisement HELP SAVE OMRI! Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Recruitment Drive Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved