E2 Owners Face New Trial

An Illinois appellate court has ruled that the two owners of the E2 nightclub in Chicago must stand trial a second time on charges they violated an order to close the facility.

A recent court case against Dwain Kyles and Calvin Hollins Jr. ended in a mistrial because a city attorney made improper comments during her opening statement, according to the Chicago Tribune. Defense attorneys argued that city officials wanted a mistrial because the jury included too many black people who could be sympathetic to the defendants, who are black.

Twenty-one people died due to a crowd crush at the entry stairwell of the E2 in 2003.

The co-owners face potential prison time if convicted of violating an order of the Cook County Housing Court, the Tribune said.