The accused was charged with arson following the destruction of the Alliston Feed Mill by fire in August 2016.
The Crown's theory was that the accused started the fire to send a message to his ex-girlfriend, who was staying at an adjacent residence.
The Crown relied on circumstantial evidence including the accused's prior conduct of burning the ex-girlfriend's belongings, his presence near the mill at the time of the fire, and alleged knowledge that the ex-girlfriend would be at the adjacent residence.
At the preliminary inquiry, the justice found that the Crown failed to establish the essential facts necessary to support the inference of guilt, particularly that the accused knew the ex-girlfriend would be staying at the adjacent residence.
The accused was discharged and not committed to trial.
