E2 Trials Begin

Three men accused of involuntary manslaughter in the E2 nightclub stampede are on trial in Chicago.

More than 1,100 people were in the nightclub when patrons rushed for the exits, causing a crowd crush at the foot of a stairwell that killed 21.

Before opening statements January 16th, Cook County Criminal Court Judge Dennis Porter upheld a previous ruling that prosecutors cannot introduce a key part of evidence – a court order, issued before the stampede, requiring the club to close because of code violations.

Porter said the court order was vague and that admitting it into evidence would be prejudicial.