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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Judge Won’t Drop Pang Charges

From Staff And Wire Reports

Martin Pang probably can’t be tried for murder in the deaths of four Seattle firefighters without a waiver of extradition restrictions from Brazil, a King County Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday.

Nonetheless, Judge Larry Jordan refused to dismiss murder charges stemming from the 1995 fire that destroyed a frozen food plant owned by Pang’s parents. Four firefighters died when a floor collapsed.

Jordan said he would schedule a hearing in late July or early August on whether to let prosecutors proceed with four charges of first-degree murder in addition to the one count of first-degree arson on which Pang was extradited. The trial is set to begin Sept. 24.

“The record before me, I think, contains disputed evidence as to whether there has been a waiver or not,” the judge said.