Northern Ont. man guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in Sudbury firebombing

The jury deciding the fate of a man responsible for a fatal firebombing in Sudbury found him guilty of three counts of first-degree murder Friday afternoon.

Following a six-week trial, the jury was tasked with deciding whether Liam Stinson, 27, was guilty of manslaughter in the three deaths or first-degree murder.

A fentanyl drug dealer, Stinson admitted he directed men to throw Molotov cocktails into a Bruce Avenue townhouse April 11, 2021, at 4:40 a.m., and start a fire inside the kitchen.

Sleeping inside was Jamie-Lynn Rose, Stinson’s estranged girlfriend, David Cheff, another drug dealer who lived at the townhouse, Guy Henri and Jasmine Somers.

Henri and Somers were living with Cheff, as was Rose, who recently moved in after ending her “toxic” relationship with Stinson.

While Stinson admitted to manslaughter in the case, Crown attorney Kaely Whillans and assistant Crown Alanya Jay set out to prove that Stinson planned to kill Rose in the firebombing, and so was guilty of first-degree murder.

The Crown had to prove that in planning the firebombing, Stinson intended to kill or cause such serious harm that death would likely be the result.

He was also found guilty of arson causing bodily harm to Cheff, the only person who survived the attack.

Stinson's attorney, Joseph Wilkinson, argued his client did not intend to kill anyone when he directed the two men to firebomb the residence and called no witnesses in his defence.

The case offered a close-up look at the drug trade in the city – both the people who sell drugs and those who use them. Multiple witnesses were admitted drug addicts who had difficulty recalling events. Some even changed their testimony at the trial compared to what they said in earlier hearings.

Three people died in the April 11, 2021, arson: Jasmine Marie-Claire Somers, left, Jamie-Lynn Lori-Lee Rose and Guy Armand Henri. (File)

Crown attorney Kaely Whillans, left, and assistant Crown Alanya Jay successfuly proved that Liam Stinson planned to commit murder in the April 2021 firebombing. (Darren MacDonald/CTV News)

The two men who threw the Molotov cocktails were fentanyl addicts who said Stinson promised them there was no one home at the townhouse that night, even showing one of them a text in which Rose talked about going to Timmins that weekend.

However, messages between Stinson and Henri that night showed he knew they were home and had sent Rose back to the townhouse with drugs for Henri and others.

The jury began deliberating Thursday evening after a lengthy series of instructions from Justice Dan Cornell.

After the verdict, Whillans said she hoped the families of the victims will find peace. She praised them for being present and committed throughout what was a long and complicated trial.

'Nothing I can say'

“There's nothing I can say to the families that will help with their pain,” she said.

“I hope that in some way this verdict at least (helps them) to move forward."

First-degree murder in Canada comes with an automatic life sentence.

Stinson has been in prison since his arrest April 20, 2021 and he will not become eligible for parole until 2046.

"Eligibilty does not mean automatic release," Public Safety Canada said.

The matter is scheduled to return to court May 21 to set a date for sentencing.

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