The accused, Jennifer Castillo, was charged with arson (s. 434 Criminal Code) and wilfully causing property damage exceeding $5,000 (s. 430 Criminal Code) following a fire at her rented basement unit.
The court, relying on circumstantial evidence and expert testimony, found that the accused had exclusive opportunity to start the fire and that it was intentionally set.
The defence's theory of an accidental fire caused by a space heater was rejected as speculative.
The court found the accused guilty on both counts, concluding that the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused intentionally or recklessly caused the fire.
