‘I’m not blaming anyone,’ Ghost Ship defendant says on stand

OAKLAND — As the case nears its end, Ghost Ship defendant Derick Almena testified Thursday that he’s not blaming anyone else for the deadly fires.

“I’m not blaming anyone,” Almena said. His comment was met with scoffs from some members of the victims’ families, who were present in the courtroom.

Almena, who was master tenant at the Ghost Ship warehouse, and co-defendant Max Harris face 36 counts each of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of three dozen people in a fire that erupted during a dance party at the Ghost Ship warehouse in December 2016.

In Almena’s fourth day on the witness stand, Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Autrey James finished his cross-examination Thursday morning.

James brought up KTVU interviews Almena gave while in custody, in 2017 and 2018, and called out one particular moment when Almena said how the whole structure of his defense is “pointing and blaming.”

James went through a list of people Almena has allegedly blamed — the Ng family, landlords of the warehouse; former Oakland Fire Marshal and inspector Maria Sabatini; Oakland Fire Capt. George Freelan; co-lease signer Nico Brouchard; hired contractor Ben Cannon; and Oakland police Officer Bryant Ocampo.

Almena contested using the word “blame” and said he is not blaming anyone.

The defense has made it known they are shifting blame to city officials, such as police, fire and building inspectors who they say knew or should have known about the dangers of the Ghost Ship warehouse. Some went inside the building, saw what was there and reported nothing, the defense claims.

James also used a 23-page letter Almena wrote in jail as evidence; it was the letter Almena wrote for what was supposed to be the sentencing hearing last year, but fell through after Judge James Cramer decided Almena wasn’t remorseful enough. The judge referred to reading this letter as part of his decision.

In the letter, Almena wrote that the landlords Kai and Eva Ng had asked him to get a contractor to sign off on permits such as for the front staircase, electrical work and plumbing. Almena testified that he and the Ngs hired Ben Cannon, an unlicensed contractor, who allegedly promised to get such permits.

But in the letter, Almena wrote “I said, no, you do it” when asked by the landlords to get permits. On the stand, Almena said there was more to that conversation.

James asked Almena: “You let people live in that building, despite no permits?”

Almena said the owners let people live in there, despite it never being inspected in some 70 years by the city.

James ticked off a list of people who lived at the Ghost Ship throughout the years — naming at least 19 people. With each person’s name, he asked Almena if they signed the lease.

With each, Almena said that no, they had not signed the lease. Only Almena and Brouchard were on the lease for the warehouse.

Almena’s attorney Tony Serra is expected to question his client again Thursday afternoon in re-direct questions. Almena is expected to be the last witness for the defense.

Check back for updates.