The Russian Pacific Fleet’s Military Court has acquitted Captain
Dmitry Lavrentyev and Engineer Dmitry Grobov on trial for causing death
of 20 by negligence on the Nerpa nuclear submarine in 2008. The ruling
is based on the jury’s not guilty verdict that was passed last Friday.
On November 8, 2008, the Akula II class nuclear attack submarine
Nerpa was running sea trials in the Sea of Japan in the western Pacific
when its freon-based fire extinguishing system malfunctioned, killing 20
of the 208 people on board and injuring 21.
Lavrentyev was charged with abuse of power and Grobov was accused of
causing death by negligence. The jury acquitted both men on September
14, 2011. The Supreme Court's Military Board overturned the verdict in
May 2012 and ordered a retrial.
On April 26, the new jury ruled that both men were innocent of all
charges brought against them by the prosecutor's office. The
prosecution has ten working days to file an appeal against the
acquittal.
Defense lawyer Sergei Bondar told RIA Novosti that they hope the
prosecution would not appeal against the decision or demand a retrial.
A military prosecutor told RIA Novosti earlier that they do not agree
with the jury’s decision. He said that the jury did not understand all
the details of the case clearly and were misled by the defense. The
prosecution has said it will appeal against the ruling. They have until
May 15 to do so.
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