Nerpa case: jury of housewives

24.06.2011 On June 23 in Vladivostok, Pacific Fleet (PF) Court Martial approved a jury to trial the case of the SSN Nerpa accident. Out of 12 persons selected by random sampling, 11 are housewives of pre-retirement age, told a source in St. Petersburg Submariners' Club to Central Navy Portal.

In total, there are 12 main and 6 reserve members of jury, said Sergei Bondar, lawyer of the submarine's commander. "The great majority are females. There are only two men – main and reserve jury members", told Mr. Bondar to Kommersant newspaper.

The prosecution is not satisfied with the jury either. Both parties of the court proceeding put a motion to dissolve the jury and form it again, but the judge Alexander Fedorov did not grant it. The trial will start on June 28 behind closed doors. Supposedly, the hearings will be conducted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; Wednesday is a reserve day. As was told to Central Navy Portal in St. Petersburg Submariners' Club, experts of NPO Avrora and Malakhit Design Bureau were called from St. Petersburg to attend the trial. As for the expert estimates, the proceeding will continue at least half a year.

Guard Capt 1 rank Dmitry Lavrentiev is accused of excess of power led to grievous consequences – death of two or more persons by negligence (clause 286/3/c, RF Criminal Code). Bilge engineer Petty Officer II class Dmitry Grobov is incriminated in improper conduct of professional duties resulted in death of two or more people by negligence (clause 109/3, RF Criminal Code).

Recall that on Nov 8, 2008 the accident happened to nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) K-152 Nerpa during sea trials. Unauthorized operation of onboard firefighting system resulted in death of 20 people (including 17 civilians from trial team); other 38 people were injured. Contract sailor Grobov is considered the direct originator of the tragedy; as for investigators, that was just he who activated firefighting system from local control panel.

Project 971U Schuka-B SSN Nerpa was built by Amur Shipyard and commissioned into Russian Navy on Dec 28, 2008. Currently, the sub is being prepared for 10-year leasing to India (contract cost is $650 mln). Capt 11 rank Lavrentiev is still the submarine's commanding officer; he continues to conduct trials and train Indian crew.