I Vaguely Remember This Incident??

[MalahatTwo7]

Does anyone from the region have anything further to add? Seems to me there is something missing on this one.

Oct 24, 2:55 PM EDT Man Found Innocent in Bonfire Explosion

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- A man accused of throwing a five-gallon container of gasoline onto a bonfire during a party has been found innocent of causing an explosion that burned 14 people.

The jury took less than an hour to reach the verdict Thursday in the assault trial of Jerry Self Jr., 23.

"It's very frustrating," prosecutor Morley Swingle said. "I don't feel justice has been reached."

The explosion happened as about 100 young people held a party Jan. 17 near Cape Girardeau.

Partygoers were knocked off their feet by the blast. Some were engulfed in flames. Several victims rolled in the snow to put out their burning clothes and hair.

The victims, mostly in their late teens, suffered severe burns.

Defense attorney Wayne Keller said the jury probably found the key witnesses hard to believe after he pointed out inconsistencies in their stories. Thirty witnesses took the stand during the two-day trial.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Defense attorney Wayne Keller said the jury probably found the key witnesses hard to believe after he pointed out inconsistencies in their stories. Thirty witnesses took the stand during the two-day trial.

This is why you guys can't get too mad at Moron. There is one in every town.

[mcaldwell]

In my little redneck town in Northern Ontario, bush fires were a common occurance and a few morons used to throw shotgun shells and .22 cal rounds on the fire. You never saw 50 kids scatter so quick.

[firefiftyfive]

Like I said in another thread...to bad stupidity is not a crime.

[CollegeBuff]

The one I remember was the college kid who tossed the empty keg on a bonfire, the resulting detonation of which killed him.......