The State Department has called for the conviction of nine of the 11 defendants in the Pedrogan Grande fires, while defense lawyers have stressed the unfairness of the process and the absence of those allegedly responsible for the tragedy in the dock.
An effective prison sentence of more than five years has been requested for Pedrogan Grande Volunteer Fire Commander Augusto Arno, charged with 63 murders and 44 crimes against physical integrity, 12 of which are serious, all due to negligence. .
An effective arrest was also required for former EDP Distribuição (current E-RDES) employee Casimiro Pedro, who is responsible for the same crimes as the commander, and for José Reves, Rogerio Mota and Hugo Berardinelli, employees of Ascendi. They are charged with 34 murders and seven crimes against physical integrity, five of them serious, all of negligence.