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.
Correction
The original version of the article above incorrectly stated the judge would decide how long Stinson would have to remain in prison before becoming eligible for parole, however, people in Canada convicted of first-degree murder are eligible for parole 25 years after they were taken into custody.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Can Trump come to Canada now that he's a convicted felon?
A Canadian immigration lawyer says now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, he is technically barred from crossing the border into Canada.
Montreal tech billionaire charged with several sex offences
Robert Miller was charged Thursday with several sexual assault charges after Montreal police reopened an investigation into the tech billionaire.
Police: 3 killed, including suspected gunman, in Minneapolis shooting
Three people, including the suspected gunman, are dead after a shooting Thursday at a Minneapolis apartment complex, police said.
'Why didn't they stop?' Mom asks of driver in hit-and-run crash that killed son
The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run in Edmonton is begging the driver to come forward.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
$400K in damages for B.C. woman who had unnecessary mastectomy was 'inordinately high,' court finds
A jury's award of $400,000 to a woman who had a mastectomy after being misdiagnosed with breast cancer has been substantially reduced by B.C.'s highest court, which found the damages were "wholly disproportionate."