It's difficult for New Yorkers to forget about the deadly crane accident that occurred two years ago where a 200-foot tall rig came crashing down on a city block, killing eight people and injuring dozens more. So it may not be a surprise that a man seen by some as responsible for the accident is now facing manslaughter charges over the incident.
WPIX News reports that the manslaughter trial for rigging contractor William Rapetti will begin on June 21 with jury selection. In a case like this, the specific jury that is chosen can play a huge role in the trial's outcome.
Prosecutors have charged William Rapetti with manslaughter in the construction accident because they say that the contractor recklessly did a slipshod job of securing the rig and that he failed to follow safety precautions.
Arthur Aidala, a New York criminal defense attorney representing William Rapetti, told WPIX that he plans to challenge the allegations of his client's negligence. He says that William Rapetti followed common industry procedures and says that "nobody knows why the crane went down."
Unlike murder charges, a manslaughter charge does not include the act of malice in a crime, whereas for a murder charge malice is a requirement. A person doesn't even have to have the intent of killing another human being with a manslaughter charge. New York criminal defense attorneys typically defend people who have been charged with manslaughter if there is not enough evidence to prove a person guilty of the crime. More information on manslaughter crimes can be found through our Related Resource pages.
Related Resources:
- Manslaughter (FindLaw's LawBrain)
- Find a New York Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Criminal Trial Procedures (FindLaw)
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