Defendant Max Harris was acquitted Thursday of all 36 counts of manslaughter in the deadly fire at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland. The jury hung on all counts against codefendant Derick Almena. Prosecutors accused the two men of turning the warehouse and artist collective into a death trap, resulting in a massive fire that killed 36 people in December 2016. Wednesday’s verdict comes after years of legal battles and two trials, which could have resulted in up to 39 years in prison for both men. Forum discusses the verdict, the reaction of friends and family of the victim’s and what’s next in the legal battle.
Related: Ghost Ship Decision: KQED Invites You to Share Your Reactions