Christian Arnsteiner, the Austrian owner of the Medusa Beach Club in Playa de Palma, appeared in court on Tuesday and explained that he was unaware of there having been any "irregularities" at the establishment.
Around 8.20pm on May 23 last year, part of a flat roof being used as a terrace collapsed. Four people were killed - two German tourists, a waitress at the restaurant and a doorman from a nearby club who had stopped off for a coffee. Fourteen other people suffered injuries of varying severity.
He testified for just over twenty minutes and told the judge that the restaurant had been inspected multiple times in recent years and that no one had mentioned any potential deficiencies to him. He stated that he had no connection to construction work carried out in 2013, as he has been the business's administrator since 2021. He deposited €250,000 with the court to be given to the families of those who were killed and injured.
After the tragic events, the National Police and Palma Town Hall technical personnel established that the roof did not have the required licence.
Towards the end of June 2024, Christian Arnsteiner was charged with reckless homicide (manslaughter). He was originally meant to have made this latest appearance in court back in March. That was put off for various reasons, one having been a strike by judges and prosecutors in July.