Managers found guilty in Prato Trial

Three Teresa Moda warehouse managers have been found guilty for the death of seven Chinese garment workers, who were killed over a year ago in a factory fire in Prato, Italy.

Judge Silvia Isidori handed a guilty verdict to the trio on Monday for a number of charges including arson, exploitation of foreign workers, homicide and lack of mandatory safety measures in the factory.

The judge handed out separate sentenced to the managers and as well as fines, with Lin You Lan being sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison, whilst Hu Xiaoping and Lin You Li were handed sentences of six years and six months and six years and ten months, respectively.

The three have to pay an estimated 500,000 euros in damages to the city of Prato and four unions who filed civil suits against them during the court proceedings. The sentences are not as hefty as the prosecution had originally called for.

Lorenzo Gestri, Prato deputy public prosecutor asked for a sentence of ten years and eight months for Lin You Lan, and sentences of eight years for her co-offenders.

The defense lawyer for the trio, Gabriele Zanobini, revealed to WWD that he aimed to appeal the sentence towards the end of May, after reading the judge's motivations, as he believed the three did not mean to cause their workers harm.

If the appeal is granted, a new hearing could occur during the second half of 2016.