Ex-Jet Set Employee Testifies Owners Knew of Structural Issues Before Collapse

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A former employee of the Jet Set nightclub testified Monday that the owners knew about severe structural deterioration before the venue's roof collapsed a year ago, killing 236 people and injuring more than 100 others.

Gregory Adames, who worked at the popular Santo Domingo club, told a judge that siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, the accused owners, had been sent photos and videos documenting the problems. "They knew because I sent them photos, I sent them videos of all the problems that were there," Adames said. "That shouldn't have happened. Not a single person should have died there."

The testimony came during a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery. The siblings were arrested last June. Prosecutors have cited hundreds of pieces of evidence against them and accused the Espaillats of attempting to intimidate or manipulate employees.

Attorneys representing victims' families, including Jean Carlos Martínez Segura who speaks for nine such families, urged the judge to upgrade the charges to voluntary manslaughter, which...