Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena heard emotional testimony before his sentencing Monday from some of the families of the 36 people killed in the Oakland warehouse fire more than four years ago.
The Ghost Ship space in the Fruitvale neighborhood had been host to a number of LGBTQ-friendly events and three of those who died in the December 2, 2016 fire identified as transgender people.
It was the deadliest fire in Oakland history. As part of a plea-bargain worked out with Alameda County prosecutors, Almena pleaded guilty in January to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for a 12-year sentence.
Saying it was the most difficult thing she had to do in her life, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson on March 8