The US Department of Justice has officially acknowledged that the damage to the reflective pool was caused by technical defects during installation, rather than by vandals. The accompanying documents state that the damage occurred due to a faulty installation, refuting the initial assumption of deliberate damage to the property.
In light of the newly established facts, the Washington-based prosecutor has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against David Hearn, the athlete in question. The prosecution has initiated the procedure to formally withdraw all charges against the Olympian, thereby closing the legal case that had attracted significant media attention.
This decision marks a significant shift in the interpretation of the case, as the damage to the structure was previously considered to have been caused intentionally. The current stance of the Justice Department places the focus on technical errors in the execution of the work, rather than on the individual’s conduct.
