Grenfell Tower fire: Family of architect killed in blaze want those responsible to face manslaughter charges

The family of a young architect killed in the Grenfell Tower fire have said they want anyone responsible for the disaster prosecuted for manslaughter, as phase two of the public inquiry was set to begin today.

Marco Gottardi, 27, and fellow architect Gloria Trevisan, 26, were trapped in their flat on the top floor as flames surrounded them on June 14, 2017.

They were among 72 people killed by the blaze, having come to England from Italy three months earlier.

Phase one of the inquiry, chaired by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, looked at the events on the night and severely criticised the London Fire Bridge. Phase two will examine the refurbishment of the tower, including the decision to install flammable cladding.

Mr Gottardi’s father, Giannino ​Gottardi, 64, told the Standard: “Too many people did not consider what might happen at the time. We do not have any anger — we are not thirsty for revenge but at the same time we absolutely do want manslaughter charges.

“We do not want punishment for its own sake but these 72 people should not have died for nothing.

“People have to change and understand that what happened was very bad — to see that if you do something really bad and really wrong you are punished. Not as a revenge, but as a deterrent.”

Phase two is being split into eight “modules”, including examining fire prevention features of the building, procurement of contractors, and testing and certification of cladding products and their compliance with building regulations.

Mr Gottardi, a retired business manager, and his wife Daniela Burigotto, 60, said they were “confident in British justice”, no matter how long the process takes.

Grenfell families fear it could be at least 2023 before Sir Martin publishes his final report. Police have said no decision on criminal charges will be made until the second phase is completed. Files could then be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which would decide whether to bring charges.

The Gottardi family has joined a civil suit in the US against several companies, blaming them for the fire.

If successful, it could cost the firms tens of millions of dollars in damages.

Mr Gottardi said any money would be used to help fund academic scholarships through a foundation they have set up in the couple’s honour. He added that the awards were a way of “keeping alive Marco and Gloria’s memory”, and were focused on work related to health and safety and improvements in construction.

He said “much more” needed to be done to ensure promised improvements in the safety of UK buildings are carried out. Last Monday the Government threatened to name and shame landlords who are taking too long to replace Grenfell-style cladding from next month after admitting progress has been “unacceptably slow”.

Engineer Benita Mehra resigned from the inquiry panel at the weekend after her links to the charitable arm of the firm that supplied the cladding emerged.

Ms Mehra is a past president of the Women’s Engineering Society which had received funding from the Arconic Foundation. She admitted to a “regrettable oversight on my part”.