Jury Acquitted Crewmen of SSN Nerpa

30.09.2011 On Sept 30, the jury acquitted servicemen accused in the accident happened to SSN Nerpa in 2008 claiming lives of 20 persons, said Sergei Bondar, defender of the submarine's commanding officer.

Mixture of freon gas and carbon dichloride began to enter compartments of SSN Nerpa as a result of spontaneous operation of firefighting system during sea trials in the Sea of Japan on Nov 8, 2008. Twenty persons died and 21 were intoxicated out of 208 people on board the submarine.

Investigators brought a charge against the sub's commanding officer Capt 1 rank Dmitry Lavrentiev and bilge engineer Petty Officer Dmitry Grobov.

If jurymen return acquittal verdict, charged persons can not be convicted.

"Pacific Fleet Procuracy disagrees with verdict of the jury and will make cassational appeal", said PF Prosecutor Sergei Kolomiets commenting the jury's decision.

Lavrentiev was accused of excess of service power resulted in unintentional death of two and more persons (clause 286/3, RF Criminal Code, provides up to 10 years of imprisonment).

Grobov was charged of improper execution of service duties resulted in unintentional death of two and more persons (clause 109/3, RF Criminal Code). Also, investigation accused Grobov of involuntary infliction of harm to health of two members of trial team (clause 118/2, RF Criminal Code). The law sanction for the heaviest crime is up to 5 years of imprisonment.

PF Court Martial began hearings of this case late in May, 2011; all court sessions were held behind closed doors.