DOHA: In the hearing of the Villaggio Mall fire case, witnesses appearing for defence told the court yesterday the ill-fated nursery, Gympanzee, that was gutted in the inferno was a play area for children and not a nursery.
Some five witnesses testified in the court yesterday, who included parents of some children who went to Gympanzee but were not present there on the day of the devastating incident.
The witnesses argued that Gympanzee was a play area for children and also a gym with facilities for children’s sports, drawings, and entertainment.
At least one witness said children aged one to 12 years could attend Gympanzee.
The prosecution objected to the witnesses testifying in the court on the ground that defence lawyers didn’t intimate them about the fifth witness in advance. This breaches provisions of article 198 of the criminal procedure code, said the prosecution.
A co-owner of the ill-fated and illegal nursery, a diplomat, did not attend yesterday’s court proceedings.
And the lawyer for his wife, who is also part owner of the nursery and an accused in the case, pleaded with the court again that his client be exempted from attending hearings.
The court, however, ruled against the plea and said that the accused must attend the court.
Defence lawyers urged the court to present more witnesses which the judges agreed to and said they could testify at the next hearings scheduled for February 14 and 16.
Lawyers for parents whose children died in the nursery fire have, meanwhile, asked that footages from a CCTV camera installed at the entrance to the nursery be produced in the court to look up the events that unfolded on the unfortunate day, May 28, 2012.
The Peninsula
