Man charged in Clinton Township explosion removes his cable

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – Noor Kestou, owner of Goo Distributors, is charged with involuntary manslaughter after his company caught fire and exploded in March.

The explosion sent gas canisters containing nitrous oxide and butane through the walls and roof of the building at 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck.

One of the projectiles hit and an innocent bystander killedTanner Salter, 19, was standing a block away on 15 Mile Road.

Kestou was also charged with illegally storing the containers.

On Tuesday, he attended a preliminary hearing in District 41B Court, where new information about his case was revealed.

“Okay, normally I wouldn’t agree with this, but without any objection from the Public Prosecutor, I’m going to remove the chain,” said Chief Justice Sebastian Lucido.

Kestou was arrested in April at John F. Kennedy International Airport. At the time, it was believed he had bought a one-way ticket to China. He was given a $500,000 bond and a judge ordered him to wear a chain.

However, on Tuesday, prosecutor Sian Hengeveld announced that Kestou’s defense provided evidence that he had no intention of fleeing the country.

“I would like to note for the record that when I prosecuted this case, the information I had only indicated that the suspect had a one-way ticket to get out of the country. Since the suspect has been prosecuted, I have been provided with information that he did have a return ticket, so I think it is appropriate at this time to loosen the chain,” Hengeveld said.

Lucido then agreed to let Kestou untie his rope.

The defense filed a motion to adjourn the hearing to a later date, citing the need for its own investigation into the cause of the fire that caused the explosion.

“The timing and all the coordination of all the different groups of people who want to have access to the site: law enforcement, insurance companies, and we, and certainly the Attorney General’s Office, will be a part of it. That is to then identify the areas that are potential for causation and origin,” said Kestou’s attorney James C. Thomas.

Hengeveld agreed to adjourn the preliminary hearing.

“While we are not happy that the case has to be postponed, I certainly understand why it has to be postponed,” she said.

The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for October 28 in District Court 41B in Clinton Township.