Trial regarding additional Mati wildfire victims postponed to February 2027

The trial concerning 12 victims of the 2018 Mati wildfire, who were not included in the primary legal proceedings, has been postponed for a third time. The judicial process is now scheduled to commence on February 10, 2027. This delay follows procedural challenges regarding the finality of a recent decision by the Three-Member Court of Appeals for Misdemeanors, which concerns mitigation factors requested by three individuals convicted in the primary trial.

There are 21 defendants facing charges related to causing bodily harm through negligence. The ongoing legal complications highlight the complexity of the case, which stems from the devastating coastal wildfires that occurred in July 2018. The current delay is attributed to the fact that the judicial decision regarding specific mitigation requests has not yet become irrevocable, necessitating further procedural steps before the trial can move forward.