Firefighter: Partitions led to 'Black Sunday' deaths

Jurors in the 'Black Sunday' trial heard again Tuesday from firefighter Brendan Cawley, who survived the Bronx blaze that killed two of his colleagues in 2005. According to Cawley, illegal partitions

News 12 Staff

Feb 3, 2009, 11:44 PM

Updated 5,561 days ago

Share:

Firefighter: Partitions led to 'Black Sunday' deaths
Jurors in the 'Black Sunday' trial heard again Tuesday from firefighter Brendan Cawley, who survived the Bronx blaze that killed two of his colleagues in 2005.
According to Cawley, illegal partitions that were allegedly put up inside an East 178th Street apartment led to the deaths of Lt. Curtis Meyran and firefighter John Bellew, who leaped from the fourth floor of the burning building after getting trapped inside.
"There was decades of experience up there that never found that side of the apartment, and that wall is what created that, that's why we're here today," said Cawley, explaining why he and other firefighters were forced to jump.
In other testimony at the Bronx County Hall of Justice, Fire Marshal Raymond Ott agreed with Cawley, saying that spliced copper wires running through the apartment served to provide electricity for illegal bedrooms created by the illegal partitions.
Cesar Rios, the Bronx building's landlord, and tenants Rafael Castillo and Caridad Coste have been charged with manslaughter for allegedly contributing to the deaths of Meyran and Bellew by creating illegal partitions in the building.
Building superintendent testifies at 'Black Sunday' trial Ex-firefighter testifies in day 11 of 'Black Sunday' trial Surviving 'Black Sunday' firefighter cross-examined Surviving firefighter testifies in 'Black Sunday' trial Jurors hear radio transmissions in 'Black Sunday' trialTestimony continues in 'Black Sunday' trial Defendants in 'Black Sunday' case go on trial


More from News 12
0:33
Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

2:10
Sunny morning followed by clouds and light rain in the Hudson Valley

Sunny morning followed by clouds and light rain in the Hudson Valley

1:23
Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

0:20
City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

0:41
Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

0:22
Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

0:35
Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:52
Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

0:32
Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

0:52
'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

1:53
Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

0:34
Yonkers police: Man wanted for failing to appear in court for car break-in charges

Yonkers police: Man wanted for failing to appear in court for car break-in charges

1:57
White Plains dispensary pays it forward, spends green on legal help

White Plains dispensary pays it forward, spends green on legal help

0:49
Gov. Hochul signs $10 million literacy plan into law

Gov. Hochul signs $10 million literacy plan into law

0:28
Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige, Pepsi team up to help women in the city

Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige, Pepsi team up to help women in the city

0:33
Kingston man charged in barbershop stabbing

Kingston man charged in barbershop stabbing

2:08
MTA outlines new details on congestion pricing, including start date

MTA outlines new details on congestion pricing, including start date

2:04
Movie theater experience: A close look at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville

Movie theater experience: A close look at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville