Monday, April 2, 2018

Report: 2nd Avenue gas explosion trial to start in September



Three years after a gas explosion killed two men and leveled three buildings on Second Avenue at Seventh Street, the case will finally go to trial on Sept. 24, according to The Villager.

Per the paper: "Ahead of the projected trial date, both parties will suggest questions for jury selection on June 25, the judge on the case, Kirke Bartley said on Friday."

As previously reported in February 2016, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance's office charged landlord Maria Hrynenko, her son, Michael Jr. Hrynenko (now deceased), along with contractor Dilber Kukic and plumber Jerry Ioannidis with manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide and assault in the second degree, among other charges.

The final defendant, licensed plumber Andrew Trombettas, was charged with offering a false instrument​,​ for allegedly lending his name and license number to paperwork.

The five were accused of installing an illegal gas system, which they hid from inspectors, at 119 and 121 Second Ave. All five pleaded not guilty in 2016.

In February, Nexus Building Development Group filed plans to build a high-end condo at 119 Second Ave. Nexus paid $9.15 million for the empty lots at No. 119 and 121 between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. Public records show that Maria Hrynenko's companies — MAH Realty and Kiev Realty — were the sellers.

4 comments:

Giovanni said...

I’m clearing my calendar for jury duty right now.

JQ LLC said...

@gio

you shouldn't have said that, you'll be disqualified now.

All signs are pointing to these bastards getting off. (as if that scumbag Kukic was still able to get work wasn't enough) It's disgusting how they were able to sell that graveyard lot and the city wasn't capable of seizing it or at least find a way to suspend it's selling.

Anonymous said...

I wonder in which offshore location she's sequestering the blood money paid by Nexus for that empty land. NYC: a place where you can behave in a way that essentially facilitates murder - and then make money from having done so.

I just got a jury questionnaire last week, and would love to be in the pool for that trial.

Anonymous said...

@JQ LLC - "All signs are pointing to these bastards getting off." What signs are pointing to this?