PROVIDENCE, R.I. --
Former band manager Daniel Biechele, whose pyrotechnics ignited a deadly nightclub blaze in Rhode Island, will be released in March after serving less than half his sentence.
NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that Biechele had the support of some of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, but others opposed an early release.
It was February 2003 when a fire sparked by stage pyrotechnics raced through The Station Nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., killing 100 people.
"The Rhode Island Parole Board decided today to parole Mr. Biechele to his out of state plan in March of 2008," board member Lisa Holley said.
Biechele will be allowed to live out of state, presumably in Florida, if the state agrees to administer his parole.
"The board carefully considered the victim letters -- both opposed and in favor of his release, the numerous public and institutional support letters that we received, his progress throughout the correctional system, and his institutional behavior," Holley said.
When Biechele was sentenced, many victims' families favored more jail time. At his parole hearing some credited him with being the first to accept responsibility.
"It was difficult, but we weighed everything," board member Dr. Kenneth Walker said.
Hoping to ease the pain on victims' families, the board chose to have him released in March.
"Think about when this incident took place. Try to stay away from any type of anniversary," Walker said.
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